Senior US diplomat holds talks over counterterrorism in Turkey

ISTANBUL

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco is seen during a meeting with President Obama.

A U.S. official for counterterrorism held talks with Turkish officials on March 6-7 and discussed how the two countries “can continue to work together most effectively on a range of issues, particularly with respect to countering the growing terrorist presence in Syria,” a written statement by the White House said March 9.

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco traveled to Turkey, Yemen and Saudi Arabia on March 6-9 as a part of regular consultations with three of the United States’ key partners, read the statement. 

“Monaco met with her Turkish Government counterparts as part of the United States’ ongoing engagement with Turkey to strengthen our joint counterterrorism efforts,” said the White House.
Monaco met with Interior Minister Efkan Ala and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu as part of cooperation between the two allies, a Foreign Ministry official told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Parties welcomed the current level of cooperation, the official said, adding that further steps were discussed in the meetings, but refrained from mentioning particular topics. The U.S. and Turkish officials agreed to enhance bilateral dialogue, said the Foreign Ministry official.

Regarding her visit to Yemen, Monaco underscored the United States’ commitment to supporting Yemen’s political transition and reaffirmed Washington’s strong security partnership with President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Yemeni government

On March 9, Monaco met with her Saudi counterparts to consult on issues of importance in the strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, including their robust security cooperation, ways to promote regional stability, and efforts to address violent extremism and counter terrorism across the Middle East, the White House said.