ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly refused to meet USNSA Bolton.
If the visiting U.S. national security aide wants to speak to a Turkishofficial, he should talk with the presidential spokesman, said Turkey’spresident on Tuesday.
President Erdogan turning down a meeting with U.S. National SecurityAdviser Bolton followed Bolton’s claim that Turkey “targets Kurds” inSyria, claims that were firmly rejected by Ankara. If meeting with Boltonwere “necessary,” then “we could have said yes,” Erdogan told reporters inthe capital Ankara, citing his “heavy schedule” in turning down themeeting. Bolton should instead meet with presidential spokesman IbrahimKalin, said Erdogan.
Erdogan added that he can talk to U.S. President Donald Trump at any moment.
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It was after a phone conversation with Erdogan last month that Trumpdecided to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. On Sunday, Bolton had said theU.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria until the Turkishgovernment guarantees it won’t attack “Kurdish fighters,” referring to thePKK/YPG terrorist group.
‘Our national security is non-negotiable’: Turkey’s national security isnot an issue up for discussion, said the head of Turkey’s presidentialcommunications on Tuesday.
