President Obama and PM Erdoğan meet at White House
U.S. President Obama and Turkish PM Erdoğan had a meeting at White House on Thursday 16th May 2013.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, EU Minister Egemen Bağış and Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan were among the many representatives participating in the meeting on behalf of the Turkish delegation. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel also took part in the large meeting.
The conflict in Syria was the major topic in the agenda of both countries.
Washington is supposed to have suggested the alternative of organizing a second international conference on Syria. PM Erdoğan had said earlier he intended to discuss “what was needed” to get earlier results.
The other issues on the table were the transatlantic free trade talks, peace in the Middle East, and energy.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted a joint press conference, during a rain shower, in the Rose Garden of the White House and expressed they had reached full accord in most issues discussed during the meeting.
Among key points the USA and Turkey agreed on were following;
- A democratic process without Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was needed for a democratic transition of the war-torn country
- Turkey will also play a major role in efforts to bring together all sides of the conflict at a planned international conference to be held soon, adding that efforts will continue to create a Syria “free from al-Assad’s tyranny.”
- The normalization of the relations between the Turkey and Israel will contribute to a two-state solution to the Middle East problem.
- Trade volume between two countries will be increased substantially.
16.05.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
