Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, left, greets British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson before a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Johnson said Monday Britain would continue to support Turkey's bid to join the European Union even after Britain leaves the bloc. Johnson also said Turkey and Britain were united in the fight against terrorism.(Hakan Goktepe, Prime Ministry Press Service, Pool via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says his Turkish hosts have not brought up the controversy caused by a rude poem he composed mocking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart on Tuesday Johnson said Turkey and Britain stand together against terrorism and that London will continue to support Turkey's bid for European Union membership.
Johnson said the poem was not an issue of discussions during two days of meetings and no one had brought it up until a journalist asked during the news conference whether he would apologize. Johnson did not answer the question.
In an apparent bid to charm his hosts late on Monday, Johnson said he was the proud owner of a "beautiful, very well-functioning" Turkish-made washing machine.
Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, right, and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speak during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Johnson said Monday Britain would continue to support Turkey's bid to join the European Union even after Britain leaves the bloc. Johnson also said Turkey and Britain were united in the fight against terrorism. (Hakan Goktepe/Prime Ministry Press Service, Pool via AP Photo)
The Associated Press
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speaks to the media before a meeting with Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Johnson said Monday Britain would continue to support Turkey's bid to join the European Union even after Britain leaves the bloc. Speaking at the start of a meeting with Celik, Johnson also said Turkey and Britain were united in the fight against terrorism. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press