Turkish, US top diplomats speak over phone

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with his U.S. counterpart over the phone on Tuesday, according to a diplomatic source.

No information was disclosed on the topics of the talk between Cavusoglu and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Cavusoglu and Pompeo had held another phone call on Oct. 9, when Turkey launched the Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

*Writing by Sena Guler