ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has stated that Turkey's team of experts who will handle EU negotiations will soon be announced.
Minister Gul met Latvia's Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks in Ankara on Thursday.
Gul and Pabriks held a joint press conference after their meeting at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gul thanked his Latvian counterpart Pabriks for Latvia's support of Turkey in the EU process. ''We are pleased to see more and more Turkish businessmen investing and doing business in Latvia,'' said Gul.
Latvian minister Pabriks remarked that Turkey and Latvia have many similarities in their histories. ''Historical similarities contribute to our relations today,'' commented Pabriks.
According to Pabriks, Latvia will soon open an embassy in Turkish capital of Ankara. ''Direct flights from Riga to Istanbul will be starting very shortly. We are pleased to see an increase in the number of tourists visiting Turkey,'' indicated Pabriks.
Pabriks thanked the Turkish government for the support it gave to Latvia in Latvia's acceptance into NATO.
Asked about rumors that the Turkish armed forces have sent American made new tanks and weaponry to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus just recently, Gul replied that he is absolutely surprised about such rumors. ''Such rumors are definitely not true and do not represent the reality. There is no need for new tanks or weaponry in the TRNC,'' stressed Gul.