Erdogan: "Turkey and the US have both assigned to officials to pursue stronger ties"

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with US president Obama in Washington yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they had discussed issues related to the joint fight against terrorism, among other things. "We reaffirmed the understanding that the separatist terrorist organization is the common enemy of the US, Turkey and Iraq. We will continue cooperation in all issues," he said. "Another important issue concerns developments in Iraq. We focused on the nuclear program in Iran, and developments in Afghanistan. Turkey has offered to provide training to the Afghan army in a training facility to be built in Afghanistan." Asked whether Turkey had asked the US to rid Mt. Kandil in northern Iraq of PKK terrorists, Erdogan said Obama had offered further support and that the two countries would continue to actively share intelligence against the PKK, but added that they had not discuss any new measures. "I had the opportunity to discuss with Mr. Obama ways to further the model partnership between our countries, including economic, scientific, technological, military and political relations," said Erdogan. "The US assigned two high-ranking officials and Turkey assigned Deputy Prime Minister (for the Economy) Ali Babacan and State Minister for Foreign Trade and Economy Zafer Caglayan to boost relations. So we will be able to take more determined steps in the coming years. They will also discuss steps to boost bilateral trade."