Quotes
Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of U.S.-Turkish cooperation in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS mission in Syria."
The statement said, in part We have time and again pointed out threats against our national security, posed by the PKK/YPG terrorist network in Syria and Iraq,
Turkish diplomats previously told Fox News Digital about the Kurdish military forces PKK and YPG We are still under constant attack from the Turkish military and the Turkish-supported opposition, which is called SNA. Eighty drone attacks a day we have from the Turkish military. There is intensive artillery shells. This situation has paralyzed our counterterror operation."
In an exclusive interview Thursday, Mazloum told Fox News' Jennifer Griffin He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring US support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,
We discussed Gaza, and we discussed I think the opportunity … to get a ceasefire in place. And what we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks are more encouraging signs that that is possible,
I think this is a moment as well for Iraq to reinforce its own sovereignty as well as its stability, security and success going forward,
The United States will recognize and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process,
The transition process and new government must also uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any chemical or biological weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,
Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS, to ensure that threat doesn't rear its head again, and it's imperative that we keep at those efforts,
Blinken said alongside Fidan after they met in Ankara In my discussions with President Erdogan and with Minister Fidan we talked about the imperative of Hamas saying yes to the (Gaza) agreement that's possible to finally help bring this to an end,
Blinken said following his meeting with Fidan We discussed in detail what we can do about these, what our common concerns are, and what our common solutions should be,
It’s imperative that we keep these efforts.”
In Ankara, he repeated this stance, stressing And we appreciate very much the role that Turkey can play in using its voice with Hamas to try to bring this to conclusion,
Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,
Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,
Blinken said in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.”
Turkey will never allow any weakness to arise in the fight against ISIS,
Erdogan told him, ... according to an overnight statement from his office Critical to making sure that doesn't happen are the so-called SDF -- the Syrian Democratic Forces,
At a time when we want to see this transition ... to a better way forward for Syria, part of that also has to be ensuring that ISIS doesn't rear its ugly head again,
No one knows the importance of that more than Iraq because of the ongoing presence of ISIS or Daesh in Syria, and we are determined to make sure that Daesh cannot reemerge,
he said, referring to the Islamic State group
