Erdogan, Putin discuss Iraq, Syria over phone

By Sibel Kurtoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed Iraq and Syria on the phone, a Turkish presidential source said on Monday.

Erdogan and Putin spoke of their scheduled face-to-face meeting on Thursday in the Turkish capital Ankara, where they will discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The leaders also exchanged views on the Astana process on Syria and Monday's referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, which has drawn widespread condemnation.

The source said the presidents emphasized the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria.