Erdoğan, Merkel discuss Syria and migrants over phone

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

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Turkey's president and Germany's chancellor discussed developments in Syria and irregular migrants going to Europe in a phone conversation on Dec. 30, according to statement from the presidency.

The statement said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Angela Merkel also discussed Turkish-German relations and the fight against terrorism.

The two leaders agreed to keep in close contact in the wake of an October summit on Syria as well as the aftermath of the surprise U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from the country.

On Oct. 27, Istanbul hosted the first-ever quadrilateral summit on Syria. Turkish, Russian, French and German leaders discussed the situation in the country and offered a plan for crisis resolution.

On Dec. 19, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Syria. His decision followed a phone call with Erdoğan in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the civil war-torn country.

German Government's Deputy Spokeswoman Martina Fietz also said in a written statement that recent developments in Syria was the main issue of the telephone discussion.

Fietz said that Merkel praised Turkey's role in accepting over 3 million Syrian refugees.