Turkish PM meets foreign ministers of Latvia, Denmark

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Thursday received Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevics and Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen at Cankaya Palace in Ankara, according to a prime ministry source.

Yildirim said he appreciated Latvia's solidarity in the wake of the July 15 foiled coup, according to the source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Yildirim said the cooperation between the two countries in fighting against terrorism was important. Rinkevics said his country had a political will to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries, the sources added.

During his meeting with Jensen, Yildirim said efficient cooperation between Turkey's allies and partners was important in the fight against Daesh, PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Jensen said his country was in solidarity with Turkey in the wake of the failed coup and wanted to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries, the source added.

Turkey’s government says that the foiled coup, which left over 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO network.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

Reporting by Mumin Altas : Writing by Fatma Bulbul