Turkey and the United States will discuss U.S. support for the PYD/PKK terror group in Syria, the extradition of Fetullah Gülen, who is mastermind of bloody coup attemp on July 15, 2016, that left over 250 people martyred and thousands of others injured, and a U.S. trial of Turkish banker Hakan Atilla which "poisons" ties, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters during a news conference in Ankara, İbrahim Kalın said the issues would be discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, who are expected to visit Turkey next week.
Turkish-U.S. ties have neared a breaking point recently over a number issues, including U.S. support for the YPG, the extradition of Fetullah Gülen, accused by Ankara of masterminding a 2016 abortive putsch, and last month's U.S. conviction of an executive from Turkey's Halkbank for helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
'VISA LIBERALIZATION TO ACCELERATE TURKEY-EU RELATIONS'
Kalın said visa liberalization with the European Union in 2018 will boost the country's relations with the EU states, also adding that they expect the visa-free regime to be realized soon.
"The launch of this [visa liberation] in 2018 will accelerate Turkey-EU relations," said Kalın.
Kalın said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will participate in a Turkey-EU summit scheduled to be held in Bulgaria's Varna city on March 26.
Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish EU Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik said Ankara had finalized a draft document for Turkish citizens to travel to Schengen countries visa-free and would be submitting it to the EU Commission soon.
Under a EU-Turkey readmission agreement signed in March 2016, Ankara is supposed to readmit all irregular asylum seekers who reach Greek islands from Turkey.
Visa liberalization for Turkish citizens traveling to Schengen zone countries is one of the key EU promises made under the deal.
- 'NO CONTACT WITH ASSAD REGIME'
Kalın also said his country has no contact with with Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
"We do not have any contact with the [Assad] regime, [and] currently establishing such a contact is out of question," said Kalın.
On Jan. 20, Turkey along with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
The military also said only terror targets were being destroyed and the "utmost care and sensitivity" were being used to not harm civilians. Turkey to submit final papers on visa free regime to EU.
