Tillerson from Turkey: Assad's Long-Term Status to be Decided by Syrian People

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that the fate of Syrian President Bashar Assad was up to the war-ravaged country's people.

Speaking after talks in Ankara, he added there was "no space" between Turkey and the U.S. over fighting the so-called Islamic State group -- even as his Turkish counterpart reiterated a key point of discord.

"I think the .. longer term status of President Assad will be decided by the Syrian people," Tillerson told a joint news conference with Mevut Cavusoglu in Ankara. 

Under Barack Obama's administration, the U.S. made the departure of Assad a key policy aim, but new U.S. President Donald Trump has put the accent firmly on defeating IS.

Ties between Ankara and Washington were strained under Obama particularly over U.S. cooperation with Syrian Kurdish militia fighting against the Islamic State group.

Ankara views the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a "terror group" linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984, but Washington regards them as the best force fighting the IS.

Turkey has suggested it wants to join any operation to capture the IS bastion of Raqa but without involvement of Kurdish militia.

Tillerson hailed Turkey as a "key partner" in stabilization efforts in the fight against IS jihadists. 

"There's no space between Turkey and the U.S. and our commitment to defeat Daesh, to defeat ISIS," he added, using other names for IS.  

But Cavusoglu said Ankara expected "better cooperation" with the Trump administration on the issue of Syrian Kurdish militia, adding that any U.S. support for YPG would mean a risk for Syria's future.

"It is not good or realistic to work with a terror group while fighting another terror group," he added.

Years of diplomatic efforts have failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people and displaced millions since it started in March 2011 with protests against Assad's regime.

Tillerson met Turkish leaders Thursday for talks clouded by differences over Syria, a day after Ankara announced the end of its military offensive there.

The trip comes after Turkey announced "Euphrates Shield", its operation in northern Syria, had ended but did not say if troops had been withdrawn from the war-torn country.

Comments 27
Thumb marcus 30 March 2017, 17:32

"I think the .. longer term status of President Assad will be decided by the Syrian people,"

just like you allowed the Iraqi people to decide the fate and status of Saddam Hussain.

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 17:51

why are you so upset!, the Syrians will decide, it's the democracy... or you want your terrorist rebels to decide, mindless.

Missing peace 30 March 2017, 18:45

stop using the word "democracy"... you have absolutely no clue of its meaning... pretending to say that the syrian regime is a "democracy" proves how stupid and hypocrit you are.

Thumb marcus 30 March 2017, 18:46

and what would a heretic iranian of wilayat al faqih know about democracy? ZERO!

Thumb illiterate-Southern 30 March 2017, 19:21

please, never stop posting about democracy. I am learning so much from you these days and feel like I am getting an online degree by just reading your inspiring comments.

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 19:30

irritated trolls jump all together because even their oversea boss betrayed their wishful "thinking"... you've to live with it, since secular Syria will remain as such and the Syrians will decide, not Harriri, Geagea or Jumplat.

Missing peace 30 March 2017, 19:37

poor southern... how naive is he. believing that the syrians have a say! LOL your master is in the hands of the russians and iranians certainly not the syrians... he is already their puppet and cannot do anything without their consent. but still believe in your childish dreams, good thing you never grew up and still have the brain of a 5 year old.....

and please spare us your hypocrit "democracy" thingie... you know nothing what it means...

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 19:46

there are 3 stages in the Syrian conflict which will go ahead step by step:

1st, Russia and Iran and Lebanon are helping Syria to over come the intl invasion.
2nd, once done, then the Syrians will be in control of their destiny.
2rd: Russia and Iran will be the friend of Syria and will have common interests to work together.

even the warmonger acknowldge that.... poor U R

Missing peace 30 March 2017, 20:05

whatever southern, i will not contradict your political expertise, you may go and cry in your mummy's skirt and i do not want to upset a child....

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 20:13

peace, the truth hurt, boy!

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 20:22

yalla nn,

many changes have been produced lately.... now the argument of the terrorrist supportes is that, there mustn't be a fair elction in Syria becasue they know that only few remain opposing a secualr non sectarian Syria... i mean the ones who support a Saudi style nation.

regarding the influence, it's normal that if Russia, Iran or Lebanon help Syria, they would have a previliaged relation with it, this is how it works...

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 17:47

"...Syrian people would decide the future of President Bashar Assad.":

it's true, but there is no need for the American blessing or advise....

btw, even the warmonger staff are lowering their pants..... we still have some narrow-minded citizens and politicians who couldn't assimiulate this fact yet.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 March 2017, 17:52

The Iranian militias and the Russian air force and special forces are now the Syrian people.

Thumb Mystic 30 March 2017, 18:06

Or the millions of Syrians that lives in the Government areas of Syria.

You forgot those people it seems, it just happens that the majority of Syrians still lives in Assad areas.

Missing peace 30 March 2017, 18:48

so according to your iranian logic the millions of syrians outside the gvt controlled areas are not syrians... pityful you are
it proves how desperate you are to cling to this totalitarian regime that killed hundreds of lebanese, but that you do not give a sh.... as you have never been lebanese....

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 March 2017, 19:17

Mystic ... The fact that the Assad regime did not win a single battle during the last few years despite overwhelming advantages in armament and numbers without significant support from the Russian and/or Iranian militias is a testimony to the level of support this regime enjoys. And we all know how elections are held in Syria.

Thumb Mystic 30 March 2017, 20:27

That does not matter, the majority of Syrians lives in the Government areas, and that is a fact.
Which means they back their President, and there are more Syrians in Government areas than anywhere else in Syria.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 March 2017, 20:39

Mystic - That means absolutely nothing. All Egyptians lived in areas controlled by Mubarak till the last minute. And was it not for all the foreign militias and Russian forces, the situation would have flipped dramatically.

Thumb Mystic 30 March 2017, 20:45

The war in Syria would've ended by now if Syria did not share such an open border with Turkey, Ottoman turks opening up their borders for foreign salafis from all over the world pouring into Syria.

Had it not been for Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey support, then your so called revolution would've died out a long time ago.
But they keep throwing money on the Salafi groups, so the war continues.

Thumb thepatriot 30 March 2017, 18:15

Are you serious Southy??
We know how the people decide in Syria! Just look at the numbers of the elections for those past 20 years... BIIIIIG Democracy Indeed...and HUUUUGE Freedom of speech... and NOOOOO Shabiha... WTF are u talking about man!?

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 18:24

in all arab nations, in some there are no democracy at all, in some is lame and some others it can be improved, now in Suria things will be changed after the Syrians, the majority realized that the cannibals adventure brought Syria 100 years back....so, it's time for them to sort things out and Assad will be the head to do that.

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 18:27

btw, they are realizing that, secular Syria will be the only viable state, and who guarantee that! is Assad.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 March 2017, 19:52

You must understand that Southern only supports democracy where Shias are the majority and then only if there are Iranian controlled militias to guarantee obedience to the Supreme leader.

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 20:29

no and no so-called ArabDemocrat, only secular states will work in M.E, no to sectarian division.... i never mention sects but you, yes.

Thumb Southern...... 30 March 2017, 20:29

no and no so-called ArabDemocrat, only secular states will work in M.E, no to sectarian division.... i never mention sects but you, yes.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 30 March 2017, 20:42

Southern - Secular democratic and not secular criminal states as in the case of Assad regime where the population is terrorized by multiple intelligence services that commit atrocious crimes. And you support democratic governance in Iraq and support the overthrow of the Bahraini monarchy. Yet, you oppose these same things in Syria. I wonder why?

Thumb ___flamethrower___ 30 March 2017, 21:33

lulz