EU foreign policy chief heads to Turkey

Federica Mogherini, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, will attempt to foster relations with Turkey and enhance capabilities in the fight against the "Islamic State" (IS), as well as clarify he hosts' position on Russia.

"The visit ... is a strong indication of the strategic importance of the EU-Turkey relationship and our desire to step up engagement," Mogherini said in a press release. The EU's new foreign policy chief will be accompanied by Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides.

Mogherini's trip marks a fresh beginning in the EU's relationship with Turkey, especially since the country, with strong European and Asian influences, has been negotiating membership in the bloc since 2005. However, the conflict over Cyprus and the resistance of some EU member states toward the inclusion of such a large Muslim population in the bloc have stood in the way of Turkey's membership in the confederation of 28 European countries.

The European Union also wants to cement ties with Turkey following Russian President Vladimir Putin's cancellation of the South Stream Pipeline project after the EU withdrew permission to build it through Bulgaria. Russia is instead planning to work with Turkey on a separate gas hub. Ankara has also not joined the EU and US in slapping sanctions on Russia over its support of separatists in Ukraine.

Mogherini and her team also aim to step up their strategic security partnership with Ankara because Turkey serves as an important transit zone for IS militants headed to Syria. Nearly 3,000 European nationals have traveled to Iraq and Syria to fight with the IS in its attempt to establish a caliphate in the region, and EU member states need Turkish help in identifying potential foreign fighters using the country as a transit point.

The EU officials are scheduled to discuss these core topics with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during their visit on Monday and Tuesday. They will also visit a refugee camp and are expected to announce aid to assist Turkey, which, according to the EU humanitarian aid commissioner, is hosting nearly 1 million Syrian refugees who have fled their country to escape the IS and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

mg/mkg (Reuters, AFP)