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Friday 26 January 2018
Trump makes debut appearance at Davos Forum US official urges

Turkey to halt its
By CATHERINE LUCEY Syrian campaign
Associated Press
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) By SUZAN FRASER
— President Donald Trump JAMEY KEATEN
barreled into a global sum- Associated Press
mit in the Swiss Alps on ANKARA, Turkey (AP) —
Thursday, threatening to The United States would
stop U.S. aid to the Pales- prefer that Turkish troops
tinians and dismissing as a “remove themselves” from
“false rumor” the idea that a conflict in the Syrian bor-
there are tensions in the der town of Afrin and focus
U.S. relationship with Britain. on “long-term strategic
Trump’s debut appear- goals” like ending Syria’s
ance at the glitzy World war, President Donald
Economic Forum was hotly Trump’s homeland security
anticipated, with longtime adviser said Thursday.
attendees of the free- Speaking at the World Eco-
trade-focused event won- nomic Forum in Davos be-
dering how the “America fore Trump’s arrival, Tom
First” president would fit in. Bossert said Turkey “ought
Crowds clustered around to be mindful of the poten-
Trump as he entered the tial for escalation as they
modern conference hall, move into Syria and Afrin.”
the president telling pass- Marine One carrying US President Donald Trump lands at the heliport during Trump’s arrival at the The United States has ex-
ers-by that he was bringing annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. pressed concerns over
a message of “peace and (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP) Turkey’s military offensive
prosperity.” Pence during his recent visit ministration has threatened stressed repeatedly that against the Kurdish-con-
Trump framed his visit as a to the Mideast. to cut off assistance to the the decision has no impact trolled enclave of Afrin in
sign of positive things hap- Trump took that as an af- Palestinians unless they on negotiations over the northwestern Syria, which
pening for the U.S. econo- front. agreed to negotiate with borders or sovereignty of began Saturday, but
my. “They disrespected us a Israel. the holy city. Bossert’s comments were
“When I decided to come week ago by not allowing Washington has contrib- Trump told Netanyahu that the most direct call yet for
to Davos, I didn’t think in our great vice president uted over $5 billion in eco- Israel had “won” on the Turkey to withdraw.
terms of elitist or globalist, to see them and we give nomic and security aid to matter but would have to Turkey has vowed to ex-
I thought in terms of lots of them hundred of millions of the Palestinians since the make concessions to the pand its operation against
people that want to invest dollars in aid and support,” mid-1990s. Palestinians in any eventual Syrian Kurdish forces,
lots of money and they’re Trump said. “That money is Annual economic aid since talks. known as the People’s De-
all coming back to the not going to them unless 2008 has averaged around Trump met separately with fense Units or YPG, to other
United States, they’re com- they sit down and negoti- $400 million, much of it British Prime Minister There- areas along the border.
ing back to America,” the ate peace.” devoted to development sa May, batting away the Ankara views the YPG as a
president told CNBC. Netanyahu was effusive in projects. State Department idea that their relationship is major threat because of its
His meeting with Israeli his praise for Trump, saying spokeswoman Heather strained after he canceled links to Kurdish insurgents in
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- the president’s recent an- Nauert said all bilateral as- a recent visit to London Turkey.
tanyahu, a close ally, was nouncement on Jerusalem sistance to the Palestinians, and May criticized him for The rising tensions between
their first since the president was a “historic decision including economic secu- retweeting a U.K. far-right the U.S. and its NATO ally
announced earlier this that will be forever etched rity aid, is at risk if the Pal- group’s anti-Muslim videos. Turkey were on display af-
month that he would rec- in the hearts of our people.” estinians don’t come to the Trump declared it a “really ter a phone call Wednes-
ognize Jerusalem as Israel’s The Palestinians, in turn, negotiating table. great relationship.” May day between Trump and
capital and move the U.S. said Trump’s “language of Trump, who has called an described it as a “really his Turkish counterpart, Re-
embassy there. dictation is unacceptable,” agreement to end the Is- special relationship.” cep Tayyip Erdogan. The
The declaration delighted in the words of spokesman raeli-Palestinian conflict the But their meeting was more White House said Trump
Netanyahu and outraged Nabil Abu Rdeneh. “ultimate deal,” said Thurs- muted than Trump’s session expressed concern about
Palestinians, who declared Past American presidents day that he had taken Je- with Netanyahu and they the fighting and told Er-
a new U.S.-led peace push have expressed irritation rusalem— one of the thorni- did not respond to shout- dogan the Afrin operation
dead and refused to meet with the Palestinian lead- est issues — “off the table,” ed questions about the jeopardizes shared goals
with Vice President Mike ership but no previous ad- although U.S. officials have videos.q in Syria. It said Trump also

On Mideast visit, Ryan vows to confront Iran expressed concern about
“destructive and false rhet-
oric coming from Turkey,”
By JON GAMBRELL His Emirati hosts couldn’t its “land bridge” to Syria, Saudi Arabia and met with in reference to recent
Associated Press have been happier. “We where it has provided cru- its king. anti-American statements
ABU DHABI, United Arab could have given that ex- cial military and economic “I want you to know that made by Turkish officials.
Emirates (AP) — U.S. House act same speech,” Emi- support to President Bashar we see this issue the same Turkish officials disputed
Speaker Paul Ryan came rati Ambassador to the U.S. Assad. way that you do,” he said. the White House readout,
to the United Arab Emirates Yousef al-Otaiba said. “This is an existential threat “Let me be clear: Congress saying it did not “accurate-
on Thursday promising to Ryan said the nuclear deal to you, it is an existential will not repeat the mistakes ly reflect” the content of
take a harder line on Iran’s should remain in place, threat to Saudi Arabia,” the of the past. And we will their discussions. They said
ballistic missile program but that more economic Wisconsin Republican told not remain silent about the Trump did not voice con-
and its regional proxies, sanctions should be im- an audience at the Emir- plight of the Iranian people cerns about the violence
and saying he was open posed to counter the “Ira- ates Diplomatic Academy who have faced brutal re- or use the phrase “de-
to imposing new economic nian threat.” He pointed to in Abu Dhabi, the day af- pression at the hands of the structive and false rheto-
sanctions. Iran’s ballistic missiles and ter his delegation visited regime in Tehran.”q ric coming from Turkey.”q