EU seeks to cooperate with Turkey on regional issues

ISTANBUL

The EU’s foreign policy chief said on Oct. 16 the bloc would strengthen cooperation with Turkey on issues “related to regional dynamics.”

Speaking to journalists before a foreign affairs meeting in Luxembourg, Federica Mogherini said they will discuss how the EU and Turkey can “coordinate better” on Syria and Iraq.

Mogherini said she spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu early on Oct. 16 to touch on “many strategic topics” such as counter-terrorism and the Cyprus issue.

The meeting of the foreign ministers, known as the Foreign Affairs Council, will also have discussions over the Iran nuclear deal and North Korea’s missile tests, Mogherini added.

The meeting is seen as a preliminary one for the European Council meeting of Oct. 19-20.