Turkey: US says Syria Kurds are pulling back in north Syria

US Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the United States was cooperating with Turkey in evaluating evidence against cult leader Fethullah Gulen.

The Turkish officials were quoting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who relayed the news in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart.

Turkey’s recent rapprochement with Russian Federation and Iran urged the U.S.to show solidarity with Turkey, local experts said over U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Ankara.

Trudeau was also asked whether the extradition treaty signed in 1979 between Ankara and Washington banned USA -based Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) leader Fetullah Gulen from leaving the US following Turkey’s extradition request.

Biden also wants to reset relations with Ankara strained by the fallout from the July 15 failed coup attempt.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country.

Gulen, who lives in self-exile in the U.S.is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

The U.S.is between extraditing Gulen and keeping hosting him, according to the retired ambassador.

Ankara will probably send the United States a coup-related extradition request for Gulen next week, the Turkish justice minister said on Wednesday.

Yildirim also said the USA and Turkey agreed that PYD elements in northern Syria should never advance west of the Euphrates River.

The United States backs the YPG in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, a policy that has drawn criticism from Turkey, which sees the fighters as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has carried out a three-decade insurgency in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast.

A spokesman for the US -led anti-IS coalition, Col. JD Dorrian, said some members of the force that seized control of Manbij went east of the river, but some remained to secure and clear land mines. “Our tie, our alliance through North Atlantic Treaty Organisation with Turkey is very strong”.

Before meeting with Erdogan, Biden held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden, who made strong statements on free speech and free expression on his last visit to Turkey, was less vocal this time.

Yildirim also said Turkey and the USA assured each other that YPG/PYD forces “will not advance” west of the River Euphrates. The Kurds, Biden reassured the Turkish government, “cannot-will not-under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment”. “We will continue to abide by the system and, God willing, there will be enough data and evidence to be able to meet the criteria that you all believe exist”, Biden said.

But within a year Raqqa, 60 miles south became ISIS HQ and launch pad for attacks inside Turkey and deep inside Europe. “Both sides need to be extra careful”.