Turkish president and British premier discuss bilateral ties, regional issues

ANKARA

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed bilateral relations and regional issues over a phone call on Aug. 27. 

Erdoğan and May also exchanged views on the areas of economy, trade and investment, state-run Anadolu Agency quoted presidential sources.

They agreed on a meeting between Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and his British counterpart.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments in Syria, particularly in Idlib, the sources said.

In May, former Economy Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Turkish Central Bank Governor Murat Çetinkaya met with investors in London and dialed back on Erdoğan’s combative message to markets on interest rate policy, saying Turkey’s Central Bank is free to defend the Turkish Lira.

Turkey’s currency has fallen more than 30 percent this year, hit by investor concern about the independence of the Central Bank and the Turkish president’s tightening grip on monetary policy after the elections on June 24.

On the other hand, international efforts to solve the Syrian crisis has come to a new phase, as United Nations talks will be launched involving the countries. Turkey, Russia and Iran will hold a trilateral summit as part of the Astana process.