Ankara, Türkiye — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Friday to address pressing regional issues, focusing on combating terrorism, achieving stability in Syria, and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“Our priorities include ensuring stability in Syria and preventing the dominance of terrorist organizations such as IS (Islamic State) and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party),” Fidan stated during a joint press conference held in the capital Ankara. He emphasized the alignment between Türkiye and the United States in tackling key challenges and exploring solutions to Syria’s ongoing crisis and broader regional concerns.
Highlighting the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Fidan said, “We agreed that a ceasefire in Gaza should be reached as soon as possible.” The call for an immediate ceasefire reflects both nations’ concern over escalating tensions and the need for a peaceful resolution.
Blinken acknowledged Türkiye’s influential role in the region, particularly in efforts to reach a hostage ceasefire agreement with Hamas. “There’s broad agreement on expectations for the interim government in Syria — one that is inclusive, protects minority rights, rejects extremism, and poses no threats to its neighbors,” he said.
Regarding Gaza, Blinken noted, “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.” He underlined the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable peace.
The two officials also reiterated their commitment to ongoing efforts against the Islamic State, reaffirming their dedication to combatting terrorism in all its forms.
Blinken arrived in Ankara on Thursday following a visit to Jordan. Prior to his meeting with Fidan, he held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the situation in Syria, further emphasizing the significance of bilateral cooperation in addressing regional stability.
(With input from agencies)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
