UPDATES WITH QUOTES FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT, REVISES DECK
By Asiye Latife Yilmaz and Esra Tekin
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the NATO leaders' summit in The Hague.
Erdogan, in his meeting with German Chancellor Merz, expressed hope that calm established between Israel and Iran would be lasting, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
Türkiye is determined to advance its relations with the EU and that a similar approach is expected from the EU as well, Erdogan told Merz.
Noting that Ankara is in close cooperation with Berlin, Erdogan expressed his belief that relations will continue to develop in the new period."
He underlined that as two friendly and allied countries, Türkiye and Germany have great potential in the areas of trade, defense, investment, and energy during the meeting.
Erdogan also said that his country continues its efforts to ensure the Russia-Ukraine war ends with a just peace.
He also called for addressing the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On Syria, Erdogan said: “Improving social and economic conditions is essential to facilitate the return of refugees in Syria.”
During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Akif Cagatay Kilic, chief presidential adviser on foreign policy and security, other officials.
Erdogan is holding a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, which ends Wednesday.