ERDOGAN, OBAMA MEET AT G20 SUMMIT IN TURKEY

Antalya, 4 Safar 1437/16 November 2015 (MINA) – Turkish president and his U.S. counterpart discussed the next steps in the fight against Daesh in Syria during their bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in southern Antalya province Sunday.

Addressing a joint press conference with U.S. President Barack Obama, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the point that both countries were “strategic partners”, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

About the fight in Syria, he said: “We had a chance to discuss the fighting against Daesh in Syria with Mr. Obama and the next steps we will take as [part of] coalition forces”.

Erdogan highlighted that Turkey will contribute to world peace and continue its “resolute solidarity” with the U.S.

The Turkish president also reiterated his strong condemnation of the Paris attacks that left over 125 people dead Friday night. He also noted the terrorist attacks inside Turkey.

“We are faced with collective terror in Paris just like in Ankara, Gaziantep, Suruc and Diyarbakir in Turkey,” Erdogan said.

Obama called Turkey a strong partner of the United States and other coalition members in the fight against Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

“The discussion we had today I think was very helpful in helping continue to coordinate work that we are doing together, to help to fortify the borders between Syria and Turkey that allow Daesh to operate,” Obama said.

The American president thanked his Turkish counterpart and Turkey for the hospitality and the excellent preparations it made for the G20 Summit.

He said that both sides discussed global economic issues and the latest terrorist attacks in Turkey and Paris.

“As was true with the terrible attacks that took place in Ankara, the killing of innocent people based on a twisted ideology is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey, but it’s an attack on the civilized world,” Obama said.

He also condemned the bombings in the Turkish capital Ankara on October 10, which killed more than 100 people just weeks before the Nov. 1 general election.

The U.S. president said that they stand in solidarity with French people and also offered U.S help in the probe.

Obama is scheduled to meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud later Sunday.

At the press conference, the Turkish president said that world leaders will discuss climate change, refugee crisis, financial and economic developments during the G20 Summit.

Anadolu Agency, the event’s main photography distributor, took photographs of Obama and Erdogan before their meeting Sunday.

Turkey is hosting leaders of 20 major economies in Antalya for the 10th G20 summit, which will discuss the world’s biggest political and security crises, including Syria and the mass migration of refugees. (T/P010/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)