Turkey to tell U.S. that Syria needs to be rid of terrorists, Turkish source says

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish officials will tell U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bass during talks in Ankara this week that Syria needs to be rid of terrorist groups to achieve stability and security, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said on Thursday.

Bass’ visit comes amid repeated warnings from Turkey that it could mount a cross-border military offensive into northeastern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia if the group does not meet its demands.

The YPG spearheads the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played an important role in defeating Islamic State in Syria. Ankara views the group as terrorists and an extension of the Kurdish militants waging a decades-old insurgency against the Turkish state, and has said it must lay down its weapons and disband.

During his visit to Ankara on Thursday and Friday, Bass will hold talks with Turkey’s deputy foreign ministers, the source said, adding the talks would focus on Syria.

Talks are expected to “focus on steps to establish stability and security in Syria and to support the establishment of an inclusive government,” the source said.

“Naturally, the Turkish side is expected to strongly repeat that, for this to happen, the country needs to be rid of terrorist elements,” the person said, adding the sides would also discuss expanding the U.S. sanctions exemption to Syria for the country to rebuild.

Ankara has repeatedly demanded that its NATO ally Washington halt its support for the YPG. It has mounted several incursions against the group and controls swathes of territory in northern Syria.

Syria’s Kurdish factions have been on the back foot since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, with the new administration being friendly to Turkey.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Ece Toksabay)

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