ANKARA - Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Tuesday that he would debate ''fight against illicit drug trafficking'' and ''illegal migration'' with Bob Ainsworth, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office.
Aksu received Ainsworth who is responsible for anti-drugs co-ordination and organized crime.
During the meeting, Ainsworth said that he would take up fields of cooperation with Turkish police and Turkey's European Union (EU) adjustment process during his contacts.
Ainsworth noted that cooperation between Turkey and Britain increased in recent years.
Stating that he was responsible for anti-drugs co-ordination and organized crime, Ainsworth said that Turkey had a key position in fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
Ainsworth pointed out that Britain was dealing with illicit heroin trafficking and human smuggling and they aimed to improve relations with Turkey in fighting against that trafficking.
Aksu said that Turkish-British relations had a positive course and Britain's positive stance and support to Turkey's EU accession process were appreciated.
Noting that two countries were reliable countries in NATO, Aksu expressed pleasure with having close military relations with Britain.
Aksu said that Turkey attributed great importance to that relationship.
Economic relations were also pleasing, Aksu stated.
Aksu said that more than one million British people visited Turkey the previous year.
''Around 80 thousand Turkish and 120 thousand Turkish Cypriot people are living in Britain. Most of our young people prefer Britain for higher education. As the ministry, we prefer Britain as a prior partner in abroad education and training of head officials and security officials. We have decided to carry out two of four twinning projects to be fulfilled by EU funds with Britain,'' said Aksu.
Aksu expressed belief that many new cooperation fields would be found in the interdelegationary meetings and added, ''we will have the opportunity to negotiate fight against illicit drug trafficking and illegal migration.''