Swedish Foreign Minister Delivers A Speech At Bosphorus Conference In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Swedish foreign minister delivered a speech at the 5th Bosphorus Conference whose theme is "Turkey and the EU: Building Ties of Mutual Benefit" in Istanbul on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said European foreign ministers have begun to see that Turkey was the second most important strategic partner of the EU in the recent years.
The world has been passing through a period of instability and uncertainty currently, Bildt said.
There was need for a more comprehensive process to secure stability in the Middle East, he said.
EU could solve these problems, but it of course needed strategic partners like the United States, the number one partner and European foreign ministers have begun to see that Turkey was the second partner of the EU, he said.

-NEGOTIATIONS IN CYPRUS-
Bildt underlined the importance of political assistance for Cyprus negotiations to succeed and said this process was a difficult one, but it also would yield several benefits.
Solution of the Cyprus issue could make favorable impacts on Turkey's EU negotiations, he said.
(EÖ)
(DIP)