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Turkey, U.S. to establish three-way mechanism to normalize ties

Xinhua,February 19, 2018 Adjust font size:

ANKARA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and the U.S. will set up a three-way mechanism to address bilateral problems and normalize their ties, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, local media reported Monday.

Speaking on his way back from the Munich Security Conference, Yildirim said that the mechanism will include three working groups: a group of defense ministers, a group of foreign ministers and the heads of intelligence and a group of prime ministers.

Turkey and the U.S. agreed to establish working groups to handle problematic areas during a critical visit by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Ankara on Feb. 15-16.

The two sides will hold the first working group meeting by mid-March as part of the mechanisms.

The withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militants from Manbij town in Syria "is a step," Turkish Prime Minister was quoted by local Daily News as saying.

"In mid-to-long term, we cannot allow a terror threat against Turkey to reside in either Iraq or Syria," Yildirim stressed.

"As long as they persist, our soldiers will be on their necks," he said.

The YPG is regarded by Ankara as the Syrian affiliate of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a terrorist organization listed by Turkey, However, the U.S. has supported the YPG as its ally in combating Islamic State in Syria.

Turkey launched military operation on Jan. 20 in Syria's Afrin to oust the YPG militia. It also vowed to expand its operation to Manbij where U.S. troops are deployed with YPG to fight the IS.

Ankara said once the YPG leaves Manbij, Turkey and the U.S. could take joint steps to restore stability there and in other cities, while Tillerson urged Ankara to show restraint in its military operation in Syria. Enditem

 

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