By Aynur Ekiz
ANKARA
Amid the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, Turkey will press the fight against terrorist group Daesh to clear it from Syrian soil, Turkey’s president said Wednesday.
"Turkey will continue the fight against Daesh and eliminate this terrorist group in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint press conference with visiting Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in the capital Ankara.
On Wednesday's suicide attack in Manbij, Syria, which initial reports say killed three U.S. soldiers, Erdogan said that he doesn't believe U.S. President Donald Trump will back down in the face of this attack, as this would mean victory for Daesh.
He added that the attack could be meant to dissuade the U.S. from leaving Syria.
Manbij remains under the control of the PYD/YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terrorist organization.
During its 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The PYD/YPG is its Syrian branch.
The attack came after Trump's surprise announcement last month of the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.
The pullout decision came during a phone call with Erdogan in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the civil war-torn country.
Turkey, Croatia: 'Strong cooperation'
Erdogan also touted Turkey's ties with Croatia, as the countries enjoy strong cooperation.
He said that Turkey and Croatia vowed to boost economic and trade relations and signed a cooperation deal in the field of culture and art for 2019-2021 to cement cultural and person-to-person ties.
Erdogan praised Croatia for supporting Turkey's EU membership process, adding that he believes this support will be stronger during Croatia's EU term presidency in 2020.
Erdogan said in 2017 bilateral trade rose 29 percent to reach $531 million, and totaled $575 million in the first 11 months of 2018 alone.
"I hope this figure will hit $600 million by the end of 2018. We have another goal, which is $1 billion. I hope we can approach this target a bit more in 2019," he added.
Grabar-Kitarovic said that Croatia wants to reach the $1 billion target in bilateral trade, saying the countries should deepen their economic ties.
Grabar-Kitarovic called the ties between the countries “excellent,” adding that Croatia will support Turkey on its road to the EU.
Peace in the region
Separately, Erdogan addressed the 1995 Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War.
"The Dayton Agreement should be revisited, as it didn't generate a solution for Bosnia and Herzegovina's future," he said.
In November 1995, Bosniaks -- amid international pressure -- stopped the war and signed the Dayton Agreement, bringing peace to the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina of two entities -- the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
The accord, initiated at Wright-Patterson U.S. Air Force base near Dayton, Ohio, on Nov. 21, 1995, ended a brutal civil war in Bosnia that resulted in around 100,000 deaths over three-and-a-half years.
Erdogan said that the UN should come into play again, and called for stronger steps.
"There are serious problems for Bosnia and Herzegovina as there's an eight-month term presidency and there isn't any proper army. We hope Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs will be live in solidarity," he said, adding that he hopes Bosnia and Herzegovina will live in peace again.
Grabar-Kitarovic stated that Croatia has done the most to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's integrity and prosperity and there should be dialogue for a solution in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"We also support Bosnia and Herzegovina's access to the EU," she said.
With a possible Brexit looming in March, Turkey’s talks with Britain are set to avoid any negative on Turkish-U.K. trade and economic relations, said Erdogan.
On Tuesday British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered the heaviest parliamentary defeat of any sitting government after MPs voted in an overwhelming 432-202 vote against her Brexit deal.
The U.K. is set to leave the EU on March 29, after more than 40 years of membership.
