(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, July 18 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend for the first time a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council here Monday to exchange views on Turkey, Syria and the Middle East, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told reporters ahead of the meeting.
Referring to the failed coup attempt in Turkey on Friday night, she said "we have been the first ones to say on that tragic night that the democratic and legitimate institutions need to be protected. Today we will say together with the ministers that this obviously doesn't mean that the rule of law and the system of checks and balance does not count." "On the contrary they need to be protected for the sake of the country itself. The rule of law has to be protected," said Mogherini.
The EU ministers will also pay tribute to the victims of the terror attack in the French city of Nice last Thursday and discuss counter terrorism measures with the French foreign minister.
On Brexit, she said that there can be no negotiations with the UK until it tables article 50 of the EU treaty to leave the EU. Until then the UK remains a member of the EU, she added.
On his part, the new UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson said he is happy to be present in Brussels on his first overseas visit.
He said the message that he will be conveying to the EU foreign ministers is that "we have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the EU but that in no sense means that we are leaving Europe." Johnson said he had a very god conversation last night with Mogherini and she agreed very much that Britain should continue to play its role.
On Turkey, he called for restraint and moderation on all sides.(end) nk.tg