Türkiye, U.S. 'Work Closely' To Reduce Tensions In South Caucasus — State Department

Washington D.C./20.02.23/Turan:   The United States and Türkiye 'work closely' to reduce tensions in the South Caucasus," the State Department said on Sunday in a fact sheet prior to Secretary Antony Blinken's talks with Turkish leaders today, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Blinken, who has been visiting Turkey since yesterday, is slated to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara this afternoon, according to the schedule released by the Department.

On Sunday he took a Sunday helicopter tour of one of the provinces worst-affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in the country's south and pledged a further $100 million in aid to help the region. "This will bring the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to support the earthquake response to $185 million," Blinken said in a statement.

Prior to his today's meeting with President Erdogan, the Secretary is scheduled to hold a talk with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and to attend a joint press availability, before participating in a wreath laying ceremony at Anitkabir Mausoleum.

According to the State Department fact sheet, Türkiye is 'an important U.S. security partner' and contributes to international security alongside U.S. forces in Europe, Africa, and in the Mediterranean.

"Türkiye borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and is a key partner in the surrounding region. The United States and Türkiye work closely to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with international law, pursue peace in the Balkans and the South Caucasus," reads the fact sheet.

The document went on to add that the U.S. and Türkiye 'stand in solidarity' with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s brutal war, the Department reminds: "The United States welcomes Türkiye's consistent and clear support for Ukraine and its diplomatic leadership in working with the UN to broker the Black Sea Grain initiative and support global food security"

The U.S. and Türkiye also maintain close coordination and collaboration in the efforts to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, according to the fact sheet.

"Secretary Blinken condemned the November 13, 2022, terrorist attack in Istanbul and affirmed that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Türkiye in its fight against terrorism.  Both nations maintain close coordination and collaboration in the efforts to fight against terrorist organizations, notably ISIS/Daesh and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party," the State Department said.

Alex Raufoglu