ANKARA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and discussed the latest developments in Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency reported citing diplomatic sources.
According to a statement by U.S. Department of State's deputy spokesman Robert Palladino, the two ministers agreed on the importance of continuing U.S.-Turkish consultations as part of the "deliberate and coordinated" withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
"Pompeo highlighted the U.S. commitment to addressing Turkish security concerns along the Turkey-Syria border," said Palladino.
Pompeo also stressed the importance for the U.S. to protect the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia.
Ankara regards the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said last week the U.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria unless the Turkish government guarantees it won't attack the YPG group.
Tensions between two NATO allies flared following President Donald Trump's walking back of his commitment to withdraw rapidly troops from Syria and seek protection for YPG militia.
