Washington, DC - The Vice President spoke by phone today with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. During the call, the Vice President reaffirmed the importance of the strategic relationship between the United States and Turkey, and reiterated the United States' strong condemnation of last week's attempted coup against the democratically elected civilian government of Turkey.
He expressed his unyielding support for Turkish democracy and praised the Turkish people's commitment to democratic institutions. The Vice President urged that the investigations into the coup's perpetrators be conducted in ways that reinforce public confidence in democratic institutions and the rule on law. The Vice President emphasized that the United States stands ready to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting their investigation into the coup attempt, and that our legal experts are prepared to work with their counterparts on this matter. The two leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation in the counter-ISIL coalition.