* Photograph: AA / Archive
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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made a brief statement for the press at İstanbul Atatürk Airport shortly before he left Turkey for his state visit in Serbia.
In response to journalists' questions on the statement of the White House, which announced that "the US would not support or be involved in Turkey's operation into Northern Syria", Erdoğan has indicated that US soldiers have started withdrawing from the region and added:
"After our meeting [phone call] about the issue last evening, the action of withdrawal has started, as the President also stated.
"The mutual parties are now conducting their works here and will continue to do so. It is not something new anyway, it has a history.
'President Trump gave his instruction'
"Dear President Trump gave his instruction about this issue, he ordered withdrawal, but it is a little delayed.
"Despite this delay, meetings were always made in the region. Now, after the meeting last evening, these meetings will continue with the same determination.
"We have always said that: We can come one night out of the blue. I still have the same determination. Because, it is no longer possible for us to accept the threats of terrorist organizations."
'Numbers of ISIS fighters a bit exaggerated'
In its statement, the White House also said, "Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial 'Caliphate' by the United States".
Answering the questions of journalists, Erdoğan was also asked, "There are news indicating that the number of ISIS fighters in the region is 10 thousand. What will be done about it".
In response to this question, Erdoğan said that "these figures were a bit exaggerated" and continued as follows:
'We will take such a step to...'
"There are some figures about the ones who are in prisons there. We, of course, have a manner of approaching to this issue.
"We will take such a step to remove these DAESH [fighters] in prisons from there swiftly... We are working on it.
'They say "We cannot look after them anymore"'
"There are DAESH [fighters] found in countries such as Germany and France. They say, 'We want to take these DAESH [fighters] out of our control, we cannot look after them any longer.'
"They will work on finding out what kind of steps can be taken about it. We have also given the necessary instructions to our friends, they will also do the necessary works".
Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan also announced that they are highly likely to have a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump in the first half of November. (PT/SD)
