“We believe there is no problem that cannot be resolved in Turkey-US relations," Erdogan said in a press conference after his first face-to-face meeting with Biden since his election.
In a separate press conference, Biden said he had a "positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one" with Erdogan. They had a detailed discussion on how to proceed on a number of issues and Biden said he is "confident" they will make progress.
Relations between Washington and Ankara have been thorny in recent years, caused in part by America’s recognition of the Armenian genocide on April 24, US support for Syrian Kurds, and Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 defense system.
The two leaders discussed Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400s, which had caused Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 fighter jet program. Erdogan said nothing was finalized in their meeting, but their ministries of defense and foreign affairs will continue discussions.
Asked if they also discussed Biden’s decision to recognize the Armenian genocide, Erdogan said, “Thank God this was not on the agenda.”
In his discussions with NATO allies in Brussels, Erdogan said he also raised the issue of Western support for Kurds in Syria, who are allies with the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS). Ankara considers the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northeast Syria a terrorist organization.
Referring to a recent attack on a hospital in Afrin that killed at least 21 people, including 17 civilians, Erdogan said the YPG is a “bloodthirsty and ugly organization” and called for the coalition to end its support for the Kurdish forces.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the hospital and the YPG have denied any involvement, calling Erdogan’s accusations “unfounded.”
Updated at 11:15 pm
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