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Austria still "open for dialogue" despite escalation in dispute with Turkey: minister

Xinhua, December 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz on Thursday said Austria is still open for dialogue with Turkey despite an escalation in tensions following Austria's veto of further accession talks at the EU Council of ministers.

In response to the veto by Kurz in Brussels on Tuesday, local media reported that his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had appeared on Turkish television Thursday saying that he would now "work against Austria at all levels," and concerning "all issues."

"I will no longer hold discussions with Austria, whose parliament makes decisions against us, whose media reports badly about us," he was further quoted as saying.

In response Kurz was reported by the Austria Press Agency as having stated that "our standpoint was well-reasoned and clearly presented."

He added that he expected discussions to take place objectively, and that Austria "is still open for dialogue and cooperation and is not slamming the door shut." Endit