Hale Türkeş
July 14, 2016•Update: July 20, 2016
ANKARA
No single group fighting Daesh in Syria should 'dictate' the country's future political scene, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey said Wednesday.
“Syria’s future is for all Syrians to decide. That’s been the cornerstone of U.S. policy for many years. We are consistent on that point, and we will review ongoing efforts against Daesh through that prism when it comes to future political arrangements in Syria,” John Bass told reporters at a reception in Ankara to celebrate the 240th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Bass reiterated Washington’s determination to continue working closely with the Turkish government and other members of the coalition to eliminate the threat Daesh poses "as quickly as possible so that we do not see the repeat of the terrible attacks in Istanbul, Dhaka and Orlando in the future.”
The reception was postponed until Wednesday, Bass said, "out of respect for the society" and "as a reflection of the impact" of last month's deadly terrorist attack in Istanbul that has been blamed on Daesh.
Forty-five victims were killed and more than 200 injured when three suicide bombers, all foreign nationals, opened fire and detonated bombs June 28 at the international terminal at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport.
The U.S. ambassador said he met earlier Wednesday with Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala and Defense Minister Fikri Isik "as part of an ongoing cooperation and intensive discussions with the Turkish government to address the wide range of challenges we face together in combating terrorism from Daesh, PKK and other terrorist organizations that threaten our respective countries."
