Erdogan meets with Putin, Obama to discuss Syria

As part of the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately met with US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Erdogan's meeting with Putin came after the Russian president had talks with Obama on Syria. In their meeting, Obama and Putin agreed that the Syrians should choose their next government and that violence must end, a political process must be created to prevent civil war and such horrific events that have been occurring over the last several weeks. The one-hour meeting between Erdogan and Putin which took place yesterday was closed to press. The two leaders discussed further steps to be taken regarding Syria. Erdogan told press members that the meeting which focused on what may be done in the future on Syria had resulted in both leaders instructing their foreign ministers to work in unity.  Afterwards, Erdogan met with Obama. A statement released by the White House yesterday said that Erdogan and Obama discussed the importance of moving towards a political change in Syria that would bring about a government which would stop bloodshed and meet demands of Syrian people. The statement said Erdogan and Obama also reviewed need to boost cooperation in the fight against terrorism and latest developments in Iraq and expressed support for Iraq's territorial integrity during their bilateral meeting. The statement added that the two leaders discussed details over a prospective meeting of the Turkey-US Economic and Commercial Strategic Cooperation Framework in Ankara.  The meeting between Erdogan and Obama was also attended by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Omer Celik.