Kerry reiterates support for strong EU during Brussels visit

US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a meeting on Monday with European Union foreign affairs ministers here, reiterated the need for strong unity within the bloc, saying it was "critical we stand together".

"Our cooperation is essential to promoting international peace, stability, security and prosperity," Xinhua news agency quoted Kerry as saying at a joint press conference with Federica Mogherini.

"The fullness of our agenda is absolutely extraordinary. We are all united in fighting back against terror and we were united today in expressing our grief in the wake of last week's horrific attack in Nice," said Kerry.

Kerry said the act of savagery in Nice only served to strengthen the shared resolve to combat the forces of violent extremism around the world.

"With a new government taking shape in the UK and the negotiations upcoming on Britain's departure from the EU, there is obviously some uncertainty out there, but what came out of this meeting today (Monday) was a remarkable sense of unity," he said.

According to the agenda issued by the EU side, both the leaders discussed EU-US relations and exchanged views on the most pressing foreign policy issues, as well as US President Barack Obama's "leaders" summit on refugees in New York on September 20.

Ministers discussed the political instability in Turkey as well as talked about the next steps to strengthen the government of national accord in Libya, and expressed their combined support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to the US State Department, Kerry travels to London on July 18, where he will attend two days of multilateral meetings on Yemen and Syria.

--IANS

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