US, European ministers focus on crisis in Turkey and terrorism

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US, European ministers focus on crisis in Turkey and terrorism2

Turkey and terrorism which the main topics in talks between EU foreign ministers and the U.S.

CCTV America’s Jack Parrock is in Brussels with more on the major meeting.

An early morning start for the EU foreign ministers and major issues dominated discussions straight away.

They called on Turkey to uphold rule of law following the attempted coup there this weekend and insisted suggestions about a reintroduction of the death penalty would not be accepted by Europe.

Attending the meetings, U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry also insisted Turkey would have to provide evidence through formal channels if it wants the U.S. to extradite the man publicly blamed for sparking the coup attempt that the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, currently living in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The EU ministers also talked about counterterror measures after holding a moment of silence in memory of those who died in Thursday’s attack in Nice, France.

After leading the charge for the U.K. to leave the European Union, Boris Johnson, on his first visit to Brussels as U.K. foreign minister, insisted his country would continue to cooperate fully with the EU.

There was also time among the EU ministers to discuss relations with China. Beijing and Brussels are at loggerheads over Chinese steel exports. One proposal would see trade tariffs for China reduced while giving the country market economy status in the EU. It’s an issue likely to dominate talks here towards the end of the year.