Turkey supports deployment of OSCE armed police mission in Donbas

President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with Minister of National Defence of Turkey İsmet Yılmaz.

The press service of the Head of State reported.

The parties confirmed willingness to make every effort to ensure prompt fulfillment of arrangements reached in the course of the fifth session of the High Level Strategic Council between Ukraine and Turkey held in Ankara on March 9, 2016 and enhance strategic partnership between the two states.

The parties agreed that Ukraine-Turkey cooperation had a significant potential and must be actively used. Special emphasis should be put on strategic spheres, particularly defense industry where the two countries have mutual interests and complementary capabilities.

İsmet Yılmaz assured of Turkey’s support for the idea of deploying the abovementioned mission in Donbas.

The parties expressed indignation over further deterioration of situation with human rights in Crimea, particularly recent arrests of Crimean Tatar leaders by the occupation authorities.

In his turn, Minister of National Defence of Turkey noted that his country did not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and strongly condemned persecution of Crimean Tatars by the occupation authorities, particularly recent decision to “prohibit Mejlis”.

The parties have discussed ways to enhance bilateral and multilateral interaction in the issue of ensuring security in the Black Sea region.

ish