Joe Biden to Try Talking Turkey's Erdogan into Fighting IS

Politics » DIPLOMACY | November 22, 2014, Saturday // 13:50
Bulgaria: Joe Biden to Try Talking Turkey's Erdogan into Fighting IS US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) during their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, 21 November 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

US Vice-President Joe Biden is set to meet Turkish Head of State Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the second day of his three-day visit to the country.

Washington is now intending to ask Ankara to increase its involvement in the fight against the Sunni militant group called Islamic State (IS).

Biden already met Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday, with the two officials confirming the long-lasting, "deep-rooted" friendship of their countries and their alliance within NATO.

Their talks also resulted in a White House statement reading that the US and Turkey would continue to support the moderate opposition in Syria and the Iraqi forces in their push to drive off IS.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the same  time spoke of rapprochement between the two countries in terms of their position on the developments in Iraq and Syria.

The meeting with Erdogan will have Turkey's role in the fight against IS as a key issue on the agenda.

The position of Turkey as a transit hub for foreign jihadis which enter into the ranks of IS using the country's territory is also an issue of concern.

Turkey is demanding that the US-led coalition against the extremists stage an operation to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad as a prerequisite to join efforts on the ground.

Ankara also says a no-fly zone should be imposed over Syria.

The country is struggling to deal with the aftermath of a thousands-strong refugee flow from neighboring Syria and Iraq which started during Syria's civil war and mounted with the IS offensive in the two countries.

It is estimated that about 1.6 million refugees are currently based in Turkey.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Diplomacy » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Joe Biden, Ahmet Davutoglu, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, turkey, US, IS, Islamic state, Syria, Iraq, bashar assad

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria