Turkish, US Officials Outline Roadmap For Manbij, Syria

By Tugcenur YilmazANKARA (AA) - Turkish and U.S. officials have outlined a roadmap for cooperation on Manbij, northern Syria, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday. In a statement, the ministry said that Turkish and U.S. delegations met on Friday in the capital Ankara. "The Turkish-U.S. Working Group on Syria met today in Ankara to continue ongoing conversations regarding Syria and other issues of mutual interest and cooperation," the statement said. "The two sides outlined the main contours of a Road Map for their further cooperation in ensuring security and stability in Manbij," the statement added. Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet on June 4 to consider the recommendations of the working group, according to the statement.The first meeting of the working group on Syria was held this March in Washington.U.S. military support for the terrorist group YPG/PKK in Manbij has strained ties between Ankara and Washington, and led to fears of military clashes between the two NATO allies, as there are roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in the city.This January, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, northern Syria to clear terrorist groups from the area. After liberating the city of Afrin, Ankara said it might also extend its operation further east to Manbij, unless the YPG/PKK terrorist group leaves the strategically located city. -