UPDATE - Türkiye, Austria vow to further increase economic, trade cooperation

ADDS MORE MEETINGS OF TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER; REVISES DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday met with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna and discussed bilateral relations.

Expressing gratitude to Austria for its support after the Feb. 6 earthquakes in southern Türkiye, Cavusoglu said the two countries “will further increase economic, trade and cultural cooperation.”

The two ministers also “exchanged views on the developments regarding Ukraine, Syria and South Caucasus,” he said on Twitter.

Cavusoglu later met with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency for talks on the “situation in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the nuclear deal with Iran.”

In a tweet, Grossi hailed his “excellent exchange” with Cavusoglu.

He said they discussed “the importance of protecting the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, non-proliferation issues & … the progress of the Akkuyu NPP to provide sustainable energy.”

“Türkiye’s voice is indispensable for regional stability and development,” said Grossi.

The Turkish foreign minister then held talks with Helga Maria Schmid, secretary general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The two “discussed regional developments in Ukraine and South Caucasus,” Cavusoglu said on Twitter.