PHOTO: Reuters
The US president warned his Turkish counterpart in a letter dated October 9, to work out "a good deal" and avoid being branded as a "devil".
The letter was "thoroughly rejected" by Erdogan, reported Turkish presidential sources.
"President Erdogan received the letter, thoroughly rejected it and put it in the bin," they said.
President Erdogan launched the Syrian operation on the same day.
“Let’s work out a good deal,” Trump had urged in the letter.
Trump letter to Erdogan: 'Don't be a fool'
“You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy – and I will.”
“History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way,” Trump said. “It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don’t happen.”
The US leader told Erdogan a “great deal” was possible if he negotiated with the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' Mazloum Abdi, whom Turkey has labelled a “terrorist” for his ties to the Kurdish PKK militants in Turkey.
“Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool,” he finished, adding: “I will call you later.”
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