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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 23:47
Latvian MFA urged Turkey to continue EU integration reforms
Volkan Bozkirand and Edgars Rinkevics. Riga, 24.10.2014. Photo: flickr.com |
The Foreign Affairs Ministry informed LETA that during the meeting Rinkevics confirmed that Latvia has an excellent bilateral dialogue with Turkey, and that Latvia will continue supporting Turkey's integration in the EU. He also indicated that the new European Commission will take office at the start of Latvia's presidency of the EU Council, which will bring new opportunities for the development of the EU-Turkey relations.
The ministers discussed Turkey's EU accession talks, as well as the current obstacles that hinder the talks from progressing.
During the meeting Rinkevics expressed concerns about the tension between Turkey and Cyprus, and urged both parties to do more to reduce the tensions. The minister expressed hope that the EU-Turkey visa liberalization process will continue successfully.
Bozkir introduced Rinkevics with Turkey's EU affairs strategy, which includes the political reform process and socioeconomic dialogue, as well as the EU communications strategy. He also confirmed Turkey's readiness to continue reforms.