Obama says no diminishing effect on Turkey-US security relations

[TomSea]

Obama says no diminishing effect on Turkey-US security relations

There is no diminishment in the security relations between the United States and Turkey, U.S. President Barack Obama has said, commenting on the growing rift between Turkey and the U.S. especially over the latest developments in northern Syria after Turkey launched an offensive to take a town on its border.

“We haven’t seen a diminishing effect on our security relations. Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally. They are working with us to defeat ISIL [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant],” Obama told CNN International’s Fareed Zakaria in an interview, which will be aired on Sept. 4.

“And they are an important partner on a whole range of security issues in the region,” Obama added.

Turkey and the U.S. differ on the designation of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and their military wing, the People’s Protection Unit (YPG). While Turkey sees them as terrorist organizations due to them being offshoots of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the U.S. sees the PYD and YPG as reliable partners in the fight against ISIL.

More: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/obama-says-no-diminishing-effect-on-turkey-us-security-relations-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=103533&NewsCatID=358