UPDATE 2 - NATO secretary general set to arrive in Türkiye on Thursday

UPDATES WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER'S PHONE TALK WITH ITALIAN COUNTERPART

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is due to arrive in Türkiye on Thursday for a three-day visit, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said Stoltenberg will be received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The NATO chief will also meet Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

The talks are expected to be centered around the extension of Istanbul grain deal, and NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland, whom Türkiye has accused of supporting terrorist groups.

Finland and Sweden struck a deal with Türkiye in June, and Erdogan has warned his country will not give the nod to their memberships until Ankara’s concerns are addressed.

Separately, Cavusoglu held a phone conversation with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra. The two officials addressed the grain export deal, as well as the latest developments in Ukraine where Russia launched a "special military operation" in February.

According to diplomatic sources, Cavusoglu and Hoekstra also discussed the problems Turkish citizens face in getting visas.

He also spoke over the phone with Italy's newly appointed Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is also deputy premier.

Cavusoglu congratulated Tajani on his appointment, according to diplomatic sources.

The Turkish foreign minister also met Geir O. Pederse, UN special envoy for Syria in Ankara. Cavusoglu tweeted that he "discussed latest developments in Syria & reiterated our support for political process."