US, Turkey agree on 'roadmap' over Syria's Kurdish Manbij city

The US and Turkish officials have agreed on a roadmap to cooperate over the security of the northern Syrian city of Manbij following months of dispute between the two NATO allies over the presence of Kurdish militia in the region.

US officials held talks with their Turkish counterparts in Ankara on Friday as part of a working group on Syria.

"The two sides outlined the main contours of a roadmap for their further cooperation in ensuring security and stability in Manbij," said a statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry and the US embassy in Ankara.

The working group was formed to resolve the disputes between Ankara and Washington over Manbij after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and then US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met in February. Later in March, Turkish officials visited Washington as part of the working group.

Cavusoglu and the new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will "consider the recommendations" of the working group during their planned meeting on June 4, the joint statement said.

Last December, US President Donald Trump approved providing weapons worth $393 million to what Washington calls partners in Syria, including the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

SS