Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu in Washington
Weapons that were supplied to terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the YPG, will be taken back as part of the Manbij roadmap agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.
“The YPG will withdraw from Manbij and security there will be ensured by American and Turkish police force,” said Çavuşoğlu at a press conference.
Çavuşoğlu also stressed that once complete, the Manbij model should be applied elsewhere in Raqqa and Kobani.
The Turkish FM also revealed that joint work with the U.S. on the roadmap for Syria’s Manbij will start in ten days.
Çavuşoğlu pointed that Qandil, a major hideout for PKK terrorists in Iraq, will also be cleared.
Çavuşoğlu, however, pointed that joint work with the U.S. in Syria is not an alternative to efforts with Russia.
A roadmap drawn up by Turkey and the U.S. will pave the way for people forcefully displaced by PYD/PKK terrorists in Manbij, Syria to return home, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Monday.Speaking at the residence of Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic in Washington after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "First Turkey and the U.S. will work on details of the roadmap to rid Manbij, Syria of the PYD/PKK terror group."Cavusoglu said less than six months would be needed for the roadmap to be carried out."There is a specific date. This depends on the steps taken in the field," he said.If the Manbij issue was solved, it would address part of a major issue dividing Ankara and Washington. Turkey has long objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PYD/PKK, a Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK, and the target of Turkey’s recent Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.About the delivery of U.S. F-35 jets to Turkey -- which some U.S. officials have tried to throw doubt on -- Cavusoglu said there is no change in the date. "[Delivery] will be on June 21 as planned," he said.He said Turkey rejected "threatening language" from the U.S. on the issue, saying it is "not constructive."Cavusoglu also said that Pompeo had told him the FBI is “seriously investigating the FETO terrorist group on U.S. soil".The presence of FETO leader Fetullah Gulen in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, despite Turkish extradition requests, has been a chief thorn in the side of Turkish-U.S. ties. Turkey has also decried the presence of FETO-linked schools -- a revenue stream for the group -- in both the U.S. and other countries worldwide.FETO was behind the July 15, 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, which martyred 250 people and injured some 2,200.
'Expat Syrians can return after Turkey-US Manbij deal'
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo discussed steps to ensure the security and stability in Syria’s city of Manbij, Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday."Minister Cavusoglu and Secretary Pompeo exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues. They reaffirmed their joint resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," the statement by the ministry said."They considered the recommendations of the Turkey-U.S. Working Group on Syria pertaining to the future of our bilateral cooperation in Syria on issues of mutual interest, to include taking steps to ensure the security and stability in Manbij. They endorsed a Road Map to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting their agreement to closely follow developments on the ground," it added.Two top diplomats also discussed Turkey-U.S. relations and agreed to hold further meetings of the working group mechanism to resolve "current outstanding issues in the bilateral relationship," the statement said."An initial session of the Working Group on Judicial and Other Issues took place immediately after the meeting of the Minister and the Secretary."Later, Cavusoglu attended a program organized by Turkish Heritage Organization, where he described his meeting with Pompeo as "very fruitful.""For our side, PKK/YPG and FETO are two major issues and we hope that our ally will stand with us on those issues," he said."I am very glad that we have achieved a significant progress," Cavusoglu said. "I can say that it was a very fruitful and successful meeting."
Cavusoglu, Pompeo discuss security of Syria’s Manbij
A crucial summit between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded in Washington on Monday.
Çavuşoğlu revealed on his official Twitter account that he and Pompeo discussed the roadmap for northern Syria's Manbij and the conflict in Syria.
Çavuşoğlu was quoted as saying that his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were "very successful," noting that he expected concrete results on PKK/PYD terrorists.
The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.