UPDATE - Turkish defense minister visits counterpart in Romania

UPDATES WITH VISITS BY TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s defense minister on Tuesday paid a visit to Romania, where he met with his Romanian counterpart.

After a visit to the Turkish Embassy in the capital Bucharest, Hulusi Akar went to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense, where he was welcomed by a military ceremony before meeting with Nicolae Ionel Ciuca.

Akar and Ciuca discussed bilateral and regional issues related to security and defense as well as cooperation in the defense industry.

Akar stressed during the meeting that Romania is an important ally and that the two countries have worked together in many NATO missions, according to sources at the Turkish National Defense Ministry.

He also underlined the importance of maintaining the Black Sea as “a sea of ​​peace.”

** Akar also visited the martyrs memorial of 935 Turkish soldiers who lost their lives during the World War I. He was accompanied by Ciuca during his visit.

** The Turkish minister also visited NATO Multinational Division Southeast, where he met Turkish soldiers on duty.

*Writing by Iclal Turan in Ankara