Turkey and US agree to start normalizing relations

Turkey and the United States have decided to establish mechanisms to normalize relations between them, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

"We have come to terms to normalize our relations," Cavusoglu said, speaking at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"We have to be sure the YPG will withdraw to the east of the Euphrates. The YPG has to leave Manbij first. This is a US promise to Turkey," he stressed, adding that US promises to Turkey in 2016 "have not been fulfilled."

The minister also said that Turkey and the US will hold another meeting by mid-March, Hurriyet Daily reported.

According to a US State Department spokesman traveling with Tillerson, the Secretary of State met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and had a “productive and open” talk on late Thursday.