Turkish top diplomat discusses Afghanistan with US, NATO colleagues

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has exchanged views about the latest developments in Afghanistan with his colleagues from the United States, NATO and other countries.

Çavuşoğlu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken late Aug. 15, the Turkish and American officials announced. “The secretary expressed his profound appreciation for the EU, NATO, Turkey and the U.K.’s efforts in Afghanistan,” Ned Price, the spokesman of the U.S. State Department, said in a written statement after Blinken’s conversations with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab about Afghanistan.

Turkey and the U.S. have been talking over how to keep the Kabul international airport safe and open after the withdrawal of the NATO troops. The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan’s control has started a new period for the war-torn country and crippled the Turkish-American plans.

Çavuşoğlu also held a phone call with Stoltenberg, during which they discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan, according to diplomatic sources.

In separate phone calls, Çavuşoğlu also exchanged views on Afghanistan with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.