"Thank you from the USA to Turkey following the critical meeting in Ankara."

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Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkey's intense diplomatic traffic continues. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey for a two-day official visit. Blinken was welcomed at Esenboğa Airport by the Director General of Foreign Affairs Protocol, Ambassador Ahmet Cemil Miroğlu, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Michael Goldman, along with many officials.

ERDOĞAN ACCEPTED BLINKEN

President Erdoğan received U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meeting, which was closed to the press, took place at Esenboğa Airport, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Private Secretary and Ambassador Hasan Doğan, and Presidential Foreign Policy and Security Chief Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç also present. From the U.S. delegation, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass and Chargé d'Affaires Michael Goldman were included.

BLINKEN THANKS TURKEY

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken thanked Turkey for its role in achieving the agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia. Blinken made a written statement regarding the agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia.

In his statement, Blinken noted that the U.S. administration welcomed the agreement that reaffirms the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Somalia and Ethiopia and envisions cooperation in line with mutual interests. The U.S. Secretary expressed, "We thank Turkey for its leadership in facilitating this agreement." Blinken stated that they look forward to technical negotiations that will allow Ethiopia to provide reliable access to the sea while respecting Somalia's territorial integrity, in a way that will yield mutual economic benefits.

ANKARA STATEMENT

The memorandum of understanding signed on January 1 between Somaliland, which declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991, and Ethiopia had increased regional tensions. Ethiopia's recognition of Somaliland as an independent country and Somaliland's preparation to provide Ethiopia with access to the sea caused a strong reaction and crisis from the Somali administration. The Arab League, African Union, Kenya, and Djibouti's attempts to resolve the crisis were unsuccessful. Tensions decreased when Turkey brought the parties together under the "Ankara Process," and most recently, leaders who met in Ankara on December 11, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reached an agreement to resolve the issue. According to the agreement, while Somalia's territorial integrity is confirmed, Ethiopia's requests for access to the sea have been transformed into a cooperation process that will benefit both parties. The parties aim to start technical negotiations by February 2025 with Turkey's facilitation and to conclude the discussions within four months.

STATEMENT FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE

Meanwhile, a statement was made by the Communications Directorate regarding the meeting between President Erdoğan and Blinken. The statement included the following expressions:

"During the meeting, Turkey-U.S. bilateral relations, recent developments in Syria, and global and regional issues were discussed. President Erdoğan expressed that Turkey's efforts to develop Turkey-U.S. relations in every field will continue in the new era. President Erdoğan stated that Turkey has been in favor of preserving Syria's territorial integrity, unity, and unitary structure from the very beginning, and that the international community should work together for the revival and reconstruction of institutions in Syria. President Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey will take preventive measures primarily for its national security against all terrorist organizations, especially the PKK/PYD/YPG and ISIS, which pose a threat to Turkey, and that as the only NATO country that has fought ISIS head-on, it will not allow the PKK and its affiliates to exploit the situation on the ground, nor will it permit any weakness in the fight against ISIS. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Foreign Policy and Security Chief Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç, and Presidential Private Secretary Hasan Doğan accompanied President Erdoğan during the meeting."