LOC16:14
13:14 GMT
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at NATO Headquarters in Brussels Friday and discussed a range of issues, including the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Afghanistan and Libya.
According to a NATO statement, Stoltenberg welcomed the continuation of NATO-brokered talks between Turkey and Greece on a military deconfliction mechanism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"The de-confliction mechanism has helped to reduce tensions and create the space for political discussions to resolve the underlying issues. I also welcome the Exploratory Talks taking place in Istanbul next week," he said.
On Afghanistan, Stoltenberg reiterated that, at the next NATO Defence Ministers meeting in February, NATO will need to address the future of its training mission.
"Whatever path we choose, it is important that we do so together, in a coordinated and deliberate way", he said, adding that NATO supports the Afghan peace talks and, as part of this process, stands ready to further adjust its presence.
Also on the agenda was the planned expansion of NATOآ’s Training Mission in Iraq to help ensure ISIS never returns.
On Libya, the NATO chief expressed his concern about the situation and restated the long standing NATO position that the Alliance remains committed to providing advice in the area of defence and security institution building, taking into account political and security conditions.
The NATO Secretary General also thanked Turkey for its significant contributions to NATO operations and for leading NATOآ’s high readiness forces in 2021.
Meanwhile, EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Cavusoglu held talks in Brussels on Thursday to take stock of EU-Turkey relations and discuss the way ahead.
Borrell in a statement last night said the EU has a "strategic interest in the development of a cooperative and reciprocally beneficial relationship, anchored in values and principles," with Turkey. (end)
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