Obama, Erdogan discuss unrest in Syria, Egypt
White House says Turkish PM requested the conversation, which also covered Kurdish rebel issues
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWASHINGTON — The White House says US President Barack Obama and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the ongoing unrest in Syria and Egypt over the phone late Wednesday.
The two leaders discussed foreign extremists fighting in Syria and the need for the opposition fighting President Bashar Assad to be unified and inclusive. Violence from Syria’s two-year civil war has been spilling over into Turkey. Turkey is also concerned that Syrian Kurds seeking more power could embolden autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels in Turkey.
Obama and Erdogan also discussed Egypt and the need for a return to democracy. Both countries have been concerned that violence and unrest there could destabilize other parts of the region.
The White House says Erdogan requested the conversation, which took place while Obama was traveling in California.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
The Times of Israel Community.