European, ME foreign ministers hold talks in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Oct 23: Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul on Friday in an unprecedented format for talks on the Strait of Hormuz and crises across the Middle East.

Ministers from Britain, France and Germany -- the so-called E3 -- as well as Italy met counterparts from the newly created R4 group comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt to discuss the Palestinians, developments in Yemen and Hormuz, and ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

British foreign minister Ed Miliband's office said the Istanbul talks would essentially revolve around "the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia".

It said Miliband "will advocate for a diplomatic solution to the (Hormuz) crisis that restores full navigational rights and freedoms".

He will also stress "how Iranian tactics are being replicated across the region, with attacks on Saudi Arabia further destabilising the region and increasing pressure on vital waterways and global chokepoints, such as Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal", it added.

France confirmed the talks on "the Iranian crisis in its various ramifications", hailing it as a first "in this format... against a backdrop of extreme instability and uncertainty in the region."

The meeting will aim to "strengthen coordination between Europeans and Middle Eastern countries in the face of crises that we did not choose and that affect us all," the French foreign ministry said.

Turkey has said the pact is not aimed at any specific country and remains open to others, including Egypt.

Fidan praised regional cooperation Friday, saying, "Lasting solutions cannot be imposed from outside," in an address to a mediation conference.

During the talks, Fidan is expected to stress that regional security requires countries in the region to "assume responsibility" and that Turkey prioritises cooperation mechanisms based on "regional ownership", according to Turkish officials.

The Black Sea is also expected to feature prominently, with Fidan highlighting Turkey's efforts to prevent the Russia-Ukraine war from spilling into the region.�"AFP