Turkish deputy PM meets British Middle East minister

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdağ met British Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt on Friday.

During the meeting in the capital Ankara, Akdağ said the U.K.'s Brexit negotiations and Turkey's EU membership process had brought the two countries closer.

"The new situation after the UK's Brexit issue and Turkey's long-standing but unfortunately incomplete position on its way to EU membership have brought the two countries even closer," Akdağ said.

Akdağ recalled that Turkey and the U.K. had deep-rooted ties.

He added: "On one hand our economic relations are rapidly developing and on the other hand we understand each other in terms of the conflicts in the region."