Erdogan, Obama discuss Syria and Libya

In a telephone conversation yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama exchanged views on recent developments in Syria and Libya as well as the Middle East peace process. The two leaders agreed that the peace process in the Middle East is vital for the region's stability. Obama told Erdogan that Syrian President Bashar Assad's speech yesterday – his first in two months, amid massive protests against his government – fell short of what is needed. "In their telephone conversation, the need for reforms to be fulfilled urgently to meet the legal demands of the Syrian people was pointed out, as well as that peaceful civilian demonstrators should not be met with violence," said a Prime Ministry statement. "The two leaders agreed to monitor developments in Syria closely." Obama also thanked Erdogan for giving shelter to Syrian refugees. The two leaders also agreed on the goals of NATO's mission in Libya and that the country's political transition process should be concluded soon.