Tillerson, in Turkey, Stresses ‘Difficult Options’ in Islamic State Fight

But Trump, who spoke in glowing terms about Erdogan during the USA presidential campaign, has shown no sign of deviating from Obama-era policies that had so angered Turkey, including a reliance on the Syrian Kurdish force, known as the YPG.

“I think the. longer term status of President Assad will be decided by the Syrian people”, said Tillerson at a joint conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevut Cavusoglu on Thursday, AFP reported.

The United States, which leads a coalition of militaries conducting airstrikes against Islamic State, supports the Kurdish fighters and sees them as an effective force against the militant group.

“Especially not in Syria”.

Tillerson said he and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had explored “a number of options and alternatives” for the operation, but signaled they’d reached no agreement. The PKK is fighting for self rule inside Turkey and is labeled a terror group by the Turkish government, the European Union and the United States alike.

“Regarding the future of Raqqah [ISIL’s self-proclaimed capital], we want the control of these cities to be given back to local authorities”, he said. The operation had the twin effect of halting a military campaign led primarily by Syrian Kurds, backed by the USA military.

Erdogan blames Gulen for orchestrating a failed coup attempt in July.

Tillerson and Yildirim discussed working to enhance their critical security and economic ties in the region, a State Department official said after the meeting.

Gulen denies Ankara’s accusations.

Cavusoglu urged Washington to take administrative steps including the temporary detention of Gulen.

Tillerson’s trip was further clouded by the arrest in NY on Monday of an executive of Turkey’s state-run Halkbank, who is accused of conspiring with Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab in a multi-year scheme to evade US sanctions on Iran.

The US insists it remains a judicial, rather than political decision.

Atilla is set to face a hearing on April 10. Including the arrest of Reza Zarrab, we consider this process is political.

And despite Trump and Erdogan’s talk of improving U.S.

The Turkish military operation in northern Syria called “Euphrates Shield” has ended, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced on Wednesday following a meeting of the National Security Council (MGK).

Tillerson’s visit comes at a hard time in U.S. “The Trump administration will continue to stress our commitment to strengthen our deep-rooted friendship”, Tillerson said.

With larger questions looming about team Trump’s ties to Russian Federation, the US will have to work through Turkey to deal with Russian Federation in Syria. The operation, known as Euphrates Shield, was a success, Yildirim said.