Erdoğan, Obama discuss Syria, Iran

SEOUL - Hürriyet

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after a bilateral meeting in Seoul March 25, 2012. Reuters photo

Concerns over Iran and Syria dominated a private meeting earlier today between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Barack Obama in Seoul, daily Hürriyet reported.
 
Obama said Ankara and Washington would continue to work together on the crisis in Syria.
 
"It was a very fruitful meeting," the Turkish prime minister told reporters. "We had a chance to evaluate the situation in Syria. It made us happy to see that our opinions are similar on the matter."
 
The U.S. leader said progress needed to be made soon on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program. "Iran has to fulfill its obligations.”
 
Obama also touched on the much-debated issue of religious freedom in Turkey and said he was happy to see that they were on the same page.  
 
Erdoğan also mentioned Turkey's fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), saying the United States was on Turkey's side.
 
"It is good to see United States with us in our fight against this terrorist group," Erdoğan told reporters. "Our fight will continue, but we will also continue political negotiations as well."
 
The prime minister further said they hoped to come closer to realizing the “expected future for Cyprus.”