Erdoğan conveys Turkey’s regional priorities to Tillerson in meeting

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 15 “clearly” told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about Turkey’s expectations on Syria and Iraq as well as the fight against terror in an over three-hour meeting in Ankara, presidential sources have said. 

According to a Turkish presidential source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, Erdoğan and Tillerson also exchanged views on the fight against terrorism.

During their meeting at the presidential complex, Erdoğan “clearly” told Tillerson about Turkey’s priorities and expectations from the U.S. on bilateral ties and regional developments, the source added.

Meanwhile, Tillerson and Erdoğan had a “productive, open conversation” about a mutually beneficial way to improve U.S.-Turkey relations, a State Department spokesman travelling with Tillerson said.

The meeting, which was closed to the media, started at 7:40 p.m. and lasted for three hours and 15 minutes.

Tillerson is on a two-day working visit to Turkey.

He is expected to meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Feb. 16 to discuss bilateral relations, particularly the U.S. support for the People’s Protection Units (YPG), and international developments.

The meeting is expected to be followed by a joint news conference.