British Foreign Secretary: Turkey to continue to be indispensable partner for UK

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Turkey will continue to be an indispensable partner for the UK in the post-Brexit era, while expressing hope that Turkey and European countries will swiftly resolve difficulties in their relations.  

Johnson, in an exclusive interview with the Hürriyet Daily News on the occasion of the 6th meeting of the Turkey-U.K. “Tatlıdil” Forum, spoke about the U.K.’s relationship with Turkey as well as the latter’s recent tension with key European countries and the EU. 

"Turkey will continue to be an indispensable partner for the UK You are on the frontline of some of the most serious challenges we face," the minister stressed.

"I hope all involved will swiftly resolve these difficulties. It’s in everybody’s interests for Turkey and the EU to have a strong partnership. We would discourage any rhetoric that could damage the EU-Turkey relationship," Johnson added.

British Foreign Secretary noted Turkey’s enormous contribution towards the collective response to the crisis in Syria, stressing that Turkey has shown tremendous generosity in "hosting more than three million refugees".

"Your soldiers are fighting ISIL directly through the Euphrates Shield Operation and your diplomats helped negotiate a ceasefire through the Astana process," he said.