Italian, Spanish foreign ministers to visit Turkey in solidarity after coup

ANKARA

The foreign ministers of Italy and Spain will pay separate visit to Turkey on Oct. 6 and 7 in a bid to display solidarity with the Turkish government in the aftermath of July 15 coup attempt, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Oct 5. 

Paolo Gentiloni, Italy’s foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, will be in Turkey between Oct. 6 and 7, read a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. “The visit of Minister Gentiloni is a concrete indicator of the solidarity that the government of Italy has displayed for Turkey in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016,” it added. 

Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, will pay a visit to Turkey on Oct. 7, a separate statement said. Both the Italian and Spanish ministers will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other high-level Turkish officials as well as pay a visit to the Turkish parliament, which was severely damaged during the coup attempt. 

Turkey has been criticizing European Union countries for being late in displaying solidarity and granting support to the Turkish government in the aftermath of foiled coup attempt.