Off the wire
• Nigeria to focus on grassroots to develop rugby  • Results of Shenzhen four-nation women's soccer tournament  • IAAF president Coe confirms presence at Lagos city marathon  • Roundup: Turkish military offensive against PKK winds down as gov't claims success  • Visions of other worlds far from planet earth  • 8-goal triller pushes China closer to Four-nation women's tournament title  • Veteran alpine skier Li fulfills dream in National Winter Games in Xinjiang  • Niger hold Guinea 2-2 in 2016 Africa Nations Championship  • China to tighten checks on subsidies for new-energy vehicles  • (Sports) Medical emergency on night 6 of Australian Open hits close to home for Ivanovic, Murray  
You are here: 　 Home

U.S., Turkey pledge closer cooperation for political solution against IS

Xinhua, January 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The United States and Turkey pledged to cooperate more closely to reach a political solution in Syria while cleaning the region from the Islamic State (IS), said visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday.

"We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared, if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation and taking out Daesh," Biden said speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Biden emphasized that the two countries agreed to cooperate more closely in conducting an effective struggle against IS, in gathering information, increasing campaigns and supporting the local forces.

Davutoglu said that Syrian regime, the IS and Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) constitute three biggest risks for Turkey and reiterated that Ankara was opposed to Syrian Kurdish group to take part in the next peace talks.

He noted that YPG, which is affiliated with outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), has been supporting terrorism in Turkey.

Biden praised Turkey's effort in fighting against terrorism, and described PKK as a terrorist organization, which has no intention to restore peace.

Turkish security forces have been fighting against PKK militants who seek autonomy in southeastern part of Turkey, since last June. Endit