Zbigniew Rau, Turkey’s Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Romania’s Bogdan Aurescu met in a trilateral format that was created three years ago, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Assistance to Ukraine
Poland’s top diplomat said afterwards that the talks in the Turkish city had focused on “stepping up political support for Ukraine, as well as military, economic and humanitarian aid” to Poland’s eastern neighbour.
Support for 'permanent presence of NATO forces' on eastern flank
Rau added that he and his Turkish and Romanian counterparts “reiterated their strong support for NATO” ahead of the alliance's summit next month.
He also said that Poland, Turkey and Romania would “continue to strengthen transatlantic relations, which are the backbone of NATO.”
Moreover, the three countries favour “establishing a permanent presence of NATO forces on the alliance’s eastern flank,” Rau told reporters.
'Stability and security between Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas'
Rau also said that Poland, Turkey and Romania were committed “to maintaining stability and security between the Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas.”
Later in the day, the Polish foreign minister was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Turkish and Romanian officials, before being hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the evening.
NATO enlargement
Last week, Sweden and Finland officially applied to join the NATO alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey said at the time it would vote against the admission of the two Nordic states.
Enlargement of the Western military alliance requires the consent of all 30 existing members.
Friday is day 93 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.