Erdogan and Obama in tune over counterterrrorism, Syria sanctions

Following a meeting with US President Barack Obama, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced a variety of common conclusions such as their two countries' determination to fight the terrorist PKK and Turkey's decision to coordinate sanctions against Syria with US, which have emerged as the two leading outcomes of their meeting in New York. Ahead of their meeting on Tuesday, Obama and Erdogan, in comments to reporters, focused on deadly attacks in Turkey which they agreed underscored the need for cooperation on counterterrorism. "This reminds us that terrorism exists in many parts of the world, and Turkey and the United States are going to be strong partners in preventing terrorism," Obama said. Speaking to reporters at a press conference following the meeting, Erdogan stated that his one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Obama focused primarily on counterterrorism efforts and added that Obama vowed to support Turkey in its fight against the PKK. "[The president] told us that the US was ready to provide every kind of support in the joint fight against terrorism," said Erdogan. Speaking to reporters, the prime minister disclosed that Turkey is considering sanctions on Syria and will coordinate its actions with the United States in this regard."I terminated my contacts with the Syrian administration. We never wished to arrive this point but unfortunately the Syrian administration has led us here," he said, noting that his government had ended contacts with the Syrian administration. Erdogan said Turkey is now preparing sanctions on Syria and said the preparations will be coordinated with the US. Referring to a Greek Cypriot-Israeli drive to explore gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean as "madness," Erdogan said it was a blow to negotiations to reunite Cyprus, but said Turkey does not consider use of military force to deter the move for now. Turkey has decided to begin its own gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and boost its military presence in the region after the Greek Cypriot government vowed to go ahead with plans to drill for gas in Cyprus' south. Erdogan said earlier this week that Turkey would send fighter planes and gunboats to patrol the area.  Asked whether a military option was on table, Erdogan replied succinctly, "Not at the moment." When asked whether Turkey would stop Greek Cypriot exploration ships or simply conduct its own gas exploration, Erdogan said, "No, we are doing our own exploration."