President Barack Obama voiced his concerns to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday about the PYD/YPG’s advance in northern Syria and said the US supports Turkey’s right to self-defense against terrorism.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Syria during a phone call which took one hour 20 minutes, according to Turkish presidential sources.
Obama stressed to Erdogan that Kurdish YPG forces should not seek to exploit circumstances in northern Syria to seize additional territory.
During the phone conversation, Obama told Erdogan that he called on the PYD/YPG to immediately stop its provocative acts which are creating tensions with Turkey and Syrian opposition and undermining the fight against ISIS, the sources added.
Obama also told Erdogan that the US is determined to keep supporting its NATO ally, Turkey against terror threats and said the US recognizes Turkey’s right of self-defense.
The Turkish presidency said Obama and Erdogan agreed to increase cooperation in the fight against terrorist groups, including the PKK.
The two leaders expressed their support for the understanding reached in Munich last week on the cessation of hostilities in Syria and called on Russia and the Assad regime to halt airstrikes against moderate opposition forces. (Source: Anadolu)
