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British, Turkish PMs meet on bilateral ties, Libyan situation

31 March 2011 21:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday met with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Downing Street No.10 to discuss bilateral ties and the situation of Libya, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Cameron said the visit came at a "pivotal moment for the Middle East" with Turkey playing a central role with its links to both east and west.

At a press conference after their meeting, the British prime minister said bilateral links between the two countries had "never been stronger."

He also welcomed the announcement of a new Britain-Turkey Chief Executives Forum which will work to further trade between the two countries.

They also discussed the "vital contribution Turkey was making to the operation in Libya" and Cameron praised Turkey’s powerful diplomatic role.

Cameron added that Turkey will have a seat at the newly formed International Contact Group on Libya. The new Contact Group was agreed at the London Conference on Libya on Tuesday.

The press conference followed news that Libyan leader Gaddafi’s former foreign minister Moussa Koussa had traveled to London and defected. Cameron said "the fact that Koussa had abandoned the dictator showed the Libyan regime was crumbling from within."

Other topics the two leaders discussed included Turkey’s aims to become a member of the European Union. The prime minister said Britain continues to champion their aspirations.

Cameron visited Turkey in July last year when he called for a new partnership between Britain and Turkey.