Minister: Romania wants ally Turkey to join the 28-nation European Union, renew talks shortly

Turkish Foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, left, walks next to Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu, right, after a joint statement in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Cavusoglu is on a two day visit to Romania.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

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Turkish Foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, left, smiles while walking next to Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu, right, after a joint statement in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Cavusoglu is on a two day visit to Romania.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

Turkish Foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, left, shakes hands with Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu, right, after a joint statement in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Cavusoglu is on a two day visit to Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

Romania's foreign minister says his country supports Turkey's future membership in the 28-nation European Union.

Bogdan Aurescu met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Bucharest on Wednesday and says he told him that "new negotiations" with the EU should be "opened as soon as possible, something we think Turkey is ready for."

Romania and Turkey traditionally have good trade, political and military relations. More than 400,000 Romanian tourists visited Turkey last year.

Turkey and Romania are both NATO members. Romania joined the EU in 2007.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Romania in April, saying he wanted to increase joint trade, currently at $6.3 billion a year, to $10 billion.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/minister-romania-wants-ally-turkey-to-join-the-28-nation-european-union-renew-talks-shortly