|
A convoy of U.S. forces' armoured vehicles drives near the village of Yalanli, on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij, on March 5, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP)
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Turkey on Monday said they are considering forging a working group and mulling a road map to solve problems on the Syria issue.
According to a joint statement issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier on Monday, and they reaffirmed the commitment to addressing their common concerns "in a spirit of allied partnership."
While exchanging views on bilateral and regional issues, Cavusoglu and Pompeo "considered the recommendations of the Turkey-U.S. Working Group on Syria pertaining to the future of our bilateral cooperation in Syria on issues of mutual interest, to include taking steps to ensure the security and stability in Manbij."
They also endorsed a road map to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, "reflecting agreement to closely follow developments on the ground," read the statement.
The two officials also discussed Turkey-U.S. relations and agreed to hold further meetings of the working group mechanism to resolve current outstanding issues in bilateral relationship.
An initial session of the Working Group on Judicial and Other Issues would take place immediately after their meeting.
The two nations have established a mechanism to solve separate issues in working groups following the visit of former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Ankara in February.
Syria's strategic city of Manbij was captured from the Islamic State in 2016 by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, mainly led by the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
Turkey has repeatedly demanded Washington drive YPG out from the strategic city of Manbij, where about 2,000 U.S. soldiers are currently deployed.
The relations between Turkey and the United States have been strained over Washington's support to the YPG, prompting fears of military clashes in Manbij between the two NATO allies.
