Polish FM aims to gauge Ankara’s intentions in Turkey visit
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
23.08.2016 11:03
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said he will on Thursday travel to Turkey for talks aiming to find out whether Ankara is changing course in foreign policy after a failed coup in that country.
Witold Waszczykowski.Photo: W.Kusiński/Polish Radio
Waszczykowski told Polish Radio that, along with his Romanian counterpart, he aims to learn more about the situation in Turkey after the 15 July coup attempt there.
Waszczykowski said: "We want to go and, along with my Romanian colleague Lazar Comanescu, talk there with the Turkish authorities about what’s going on, what happened, what the current situation looks like today, what the further policy plans of the Turkish Government are, how they evaluate the situation.
“What is their attitude ... to relations with the European Union and NATO, because this is a very important issue for us. Do the Turks still want to function in NATO and implement the decisions of the [8-9 July] NATO summit in Warsaw? What are relations with Russia like, which are now taking on a new character?"
Turkey, Russia, Iran
Waszczykowski was also asked about Turkish-Russian relations. "The fact is that the Turkish policy at the moment has come closer to that of Russia,” he said.
“There has been a series of meetings and important agreements. The Russians are cooperating with Iran, which Iran has also recently confirmed.”
He added: “And there are certain common Turkish-Iranian interests, especially in the Middle East in the face of the Islamic state. Can we conclude from this that a new triangle is forming? I do not know yet. I do not think this is the case.
“Turkey continues to be a reliable member of NATO. It is carrying out all of its commitments. We do not see any deviations from NATO policy on Ankara’s part. But of course during the trip with my Romanian colleague we will want to confirm this policy within the framework of NATO," Waszczykowski said. (pk)