Turkey is key partner for the UK

04 Nov 2009

David Miliband visited Turkey on 4-5 November for ministerial meetings and discussions on many issues including the EU and climate change.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY IN ISTANBUL
by ukinturkey1

The Foreign Secretary held meetings with Turkey's Chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis, Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu to discuss a range of issues including Turkey's EU accession, Cyprus, regional issues and climate change.

On arrival in Istanbul David Miliband said:

"I am pleased to be back in Turkey for my fourth visit as Foreign Secretary. Turkey is a key partner for the UK. And it's a European partner: I am very clear that Turkish accession to the EU is important and will be of huge benefit to both Turkey and the EU.

I'll be discussing this with Turkey’s Chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis later today, and along with a number of other foreign policy priorities, with Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu tomorrow."

The Foreign Secretary last visited Turkey in May this year when he met the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davatoglu.