Erdoğan, Obama talk on phone, agree on cooperation against ISIL

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke on the phone on Oct. 19 to discuss developments in Syria, including the situation of Kobane, the Kurdish town besieged by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) for over a month.

The conversation came after Erdoğan returned from an official visit to Afghanistan, the presidential press office said.

The office stated that Obama and Erdoğan agreed to continue cooperating against ISIL and also touched on Turkey’s continuing efforts to shelter one and half million Syrian people, including almost 180,000 Kurds who have fled from Kobane.

In Washington, a statement released by the White House indicated that it was Obama who initiated the conversation. The statement which was almost identical with the one released by Ankara summarized the focus of the conversation as “particularly the situation in Kobane, and steps that could be taken to counter ISIL advances.” White House also noted Obama’s appreciation “for Turkey hosting over a million refugees, including thousands from Kobane.” 

The two leaders also emphasized the importance of the two countries’ collaboration to provide peace and stability in Afghanistan.