The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today met Turkish Foreign Minister Davutogl. Both leaders reaffirmed commitment and cooperation on couterterrorism.
According to Senior State Department Official, the Secretary had a long bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Davutoglu, which lasted almost an hour.
“As always with Turkey, there’s a very long list of issues to address. She started by raising the Global Counterterrorism Forum, which is going to meet later this week and is something that she will chair together with Foreign Minister Davutoglu.” -Senior State Department Official
The Secretary of State was very clear on the issue of the PKK and the rise recently seen on PKK attacks. She expressed the U.S. solidarity with Turkey on that issue, the United States cooperates with Turkey extensively in counterterrorism and specifically on the challenges of the PKK.
The Secretary of State also underscored that the PKK is a terrorist threat not just to Turkey but to the United States as well.
According to the Senior State Department Official, both leaders talked about the Turkey-Israel relationship. The Secretary expressed regret that they weren’t able, in recent days and weeks, to overcome their differences but she encouraged Turkey to keep the door open.
“These are both two close friends and allies of the United States and we want to see them repair their relationship so she encouraged them to avoid any steps that would close that door; on the contrary, to actively seek ways that they can repair that important relationship with Israel.” -Senior State Department Official
