Turkey’s Çavuşoğlu talks Syria on phone with US’ Kerry

Emine Kart - ANKARA

REUTERS photo

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has conducted a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, from India where he has been paying an official visit.

The call, which touched on the current developments in Syria, was initiated by the Turkish side on Aug. 18, diplomatic sources told the Hürriyet Daily News on Aug. 19.

The two counterparts had most recently conducted a telephone conversation on Aug. 16 – again upon Çavuşoğlu’s request. During that phone conversation, Çavuşoğlu and Kerry exchanged ideas on the latest situation in Syria, including the latest developments surrounding Manbij and Aleppo, the same diplomatic sources said. 

“During the talk [on Aug. 16], Mr. Minister and Mr. Kerry exchanged ideas on the latest situation in Syria, including the latest developments surrounding Manbij and Aleppo, as well as the extradition process of FETÖ [Fetullahist Terrorist Organization] protagonist Fethullah Gülen and the visit that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will pay to our country in the coming days,” said the source, speaking under customary condition of anonymity.

Çavuşoğlu in on an official visit to India from Aug. 18 to 20. On the occasion of the visit, the “Road Map between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India,” whose negotiations have been completed, is expected to be adopted.

During the meetings, the sides were to discuss all aspects of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional issues.