Japanese foreign minister visits Turkey

ANKARA

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Dec. 28 paid an official visit to Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had invited his Japanese counterpart who has visited Oman, Jordan, Palestine and Israel this week.

In an e-mail response to state-run Anadolu Agency, Kono had said the countries should further cooperation on regional and international issues.

Peace and stability of the Middle East “are directly linked to Japan’s economy, society and security,” said Kono.

He also said Turkey had a significant influence on issues such as security, politics, economy and culture in the region, adding that Japan supports Turkey’s efforts to shelter more than three million Syrian people.

Kono said his country had sent nearly $80 million for the Syrian refugees in Turkey, adding that Japan would back non-military initiatives for resolving the conflict in Syria.

Speaking about the United States’ move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec. 6, Kono said they believed in the two-state solution.

Japan voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution last week, which condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision.