Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Friday in Ankara to discuss combating terrorism and achieving stability in Syria. The two officials called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza amid escalating tensions in the region. “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 at a joint press conference with Blinken. Fidan emphasized the alignment between Türkiye and the United States in addressing key challenges in the Middle East. He noted that their discussions focused on exploring solutions to Syria’s ongoing crisis and broader regional issues. “We agreed that a ceasefire in Gaza should be reached as soon as possible,” Fidan added. Blinken acknowledged Türkiye’s significant role in influencing Hamas to reach a hostage ceasefire agreement. He highlighted the shared expectations for an interim government in Syria that is inclusive, protects minority rights, rejects extremism, and poses no threats to its neighbors. “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,” Blinken said. The two officials reiterated their commitment to ongoing efforts against the Islamic State group. Blinken arrived in Ankara on Thursday following a visit to Jordan. He also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the situation in Syria.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
