For the first Time, US President, Donald Trump, and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan come together in the White house. DW takes a look at the possible topics of conversation.
President Erdogan had called the Meeting in advance as “a new milestone” in US-Turkish relations. As expected, it will turn to bilateral talks on developments in Syria, Turkey requested the extradition of the preacher Fetullah Gülen, Erdogan for the coup attempt in July, be responsible, and the fate of the Iranian Zarrab Turkish businessman Reza. This is currently in the United States before the court.
Point of dispute: US arms deliveries to Kurdish forces
Particularly controversial is the American weapons supplies to the Kurdish militia YPG are not likely to be discussed – especially if the US government missed the opportunity in this point of their Position. The YPG is considered to be one of the most effective fighting groups, the Democratic forces in Syria, their next target is the re-conquest Rakkas is a stronghold of the terrorist militia “Islamic state” (IS).
The Turkish government considers the YPG is an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdish workers ‘ party PKK, with which it is since the 1980s in armed conflict. The USA also does not classify the PKK as a terrorist organization, but the YPG. The Turkish authorities fear that US weapons intended for Kurdish fighters could fall into the hands of the PKK.
Common positions in the Syria conflict
Since August, Turkish troops are fighting in the framework of the “Operation Euphrates shield” in Northern Syria on the side of the local rebels of the Free Syrian army (FSA) against the IS, they were able to recapture many cities. In the case of the planned taking Rakkas Turkey, the FSA support.
Neither Trump nor Erdogan are in Syria to those in power Bassar al-Assad is benevolent. However, the Turkish President seems to have his earlier demand that Assad’s resignation will be discarded.
Since the relationship between Ankara and Moscow has stabilised again, which was advised in July 2015 by the shooting down of Russian fighter jets in a crisis, the focus in both countries on the completion of the Syrian civil war. For months, Turkey, Russia and Iran lead diplomatic talks between representatives of the Assad regime and the rebels in the Kazakh capital Astana.
Turkey calls for no-fly zones in Northern Syria, the air attacks by Assad on civilians, and thus the corresponding escape movements to curb. At the beginning of may in Astana adopted four protection zones in Syria, the implementation of the peace process and the role of Iran and Russia is likely to be a topic during the Meeting in Washington.
Earlier friend, today’s enemy: Since the coup attempt, asked Erdogan to the U.S. the extradition of Fetullah gülen’s
What is Gulen?
Also about dealing with Fetullah Gülen, Erdogan will want to speak. The 76-year-old Islamic preacher lives since 1999 in self-imposed US exile. Erdogan accuses his former allies, to have a terrorist organization founded to infiltrate the Turkish state and in the context of the failed coup attempt, the government should fall. Gulen denies the allegations.
Shortly before the Meeting in the White house were taken against the Background of the investigation against the Gülen movement according to the channel CNN Türk, 85 employees from the Turkish energy and the Ministry of education. Overall attempt in Turkey have been released since the coup 150,000 Workers of the public service, the judiciary, the police and the military, or suspended from duty, as well as about 50,000 people in custody.
… and from Zarrab?
Reza was Laundry Zarrab about a year ago in the United States on suspicion of money and the violation of US sanctions against Iran. Since then, he sits in custody. The 33-year-old maintains close ties to Ankara and in Turkey is a well-known figure. At the end of 2013, he was arrested for alleged involvement in a major corruption scandal fixed and sat for 70 days in detention before he was later acquitted.
Sitting in US custody: Reza Zarrab
At the end of March, the former New York mayor and Trump joined-Familiar Rudolph Giuliani and the former Minister of justice, Michael Mukasey, the attorney team Zarrabs in the United States. According to court documents, came in April to the Public, had met Giuliani and Mukasey by the end of February with Erdogan and tries to obtain, through diplomatic channels, the release Zarrabs.
The charge of the case, judge Richard Berman asked the defence, the function of Giuliani and Mukasey in the process. Last week, Berman said at a hearing, the case should be resolved by legal means and not through diplomatic steps.