LOC18:38
15:38 GMT
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis
ANKARA, Aug 23 (KUNA) -- Turkey and the United States on Wednesday expressed their determination to work together to fight the so-called Islamic State (IS) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), both labeled as "terrorist" groups.
Both countries are also eager to protect the security of Iraq and Syria, state-run Anadolu News Agency quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying, in his meeting with the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
The Turkish President said that a planned Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum was an ill-advised move.
The two officials held talks over strategies to establish closer ties between the US and Turkey, two prominent NATO members.
The US Secretary of Defense arrived in Ankara earlier on Wednesday and had previously met with his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli. (end)
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