No sign of Syria-Turkey war: U.S. Ambassador

ANKARA

This September 17, 2012 US Department od Defense handout image shows US Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. meeting with US Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. AFP PHOTO

Washington doesn’t see the possibility of a war between Turkey and Syria, U.S. ambassador to Ankara Francis Ricciardone said today, adding that Ankara would not fall into the trap of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Ricciardone said the United States is on the same page as Turkey in regards to the Syrian issue.

“We don’t see a possibility of war between Syria and Turkey. We will perform our utmost performance, we are sharing intelligence with friend countries,” Ricciardone said.

Touching on the anti-terror fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the U.S.
ambassador said the PKK and the al-Assad regime are common enemies of both countries. Ricciardone also said the United States was disappointed with the UN’s inability to act on the Syria issue. “The UN should be more active and the Security Council should act,” Ricciardone said.