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Source: Dubai – Arabia.net
Turkey expressed its dissatisfaction with the European statement issued yesterday on the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, highlighting its readiness for dialogue.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the statement issued by the French-chaired Corsica meetings was “biased.” Cavusoglu confirmed Turkey’s readiness for “a direct dialogue with Greece without conditions.”
He explained that “the sentences of the joint statement are biased and disconnected from reality, and lack a legal basis.”
He added: “We call on Greece to abandon its illegal and exaggerated demands in maritime areas,” calling on the European Union countries to support Greece’s demands to “abandon its unilateral approach.”
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy also said that Athens should withdraw its warships surrounding the Turkish reconnaissance ship Uruç President to ease tension.
This comes when the European Parliament will discuss, next Tuesday, the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean.
On Thursday, European Union member states bordering the Mediterranean said the bloc will prepare a list of new sanctions against Turkey in late September if Ankara does not return to the negotiating table to resolve the regional dispute with Greece and Cyprus.
Macron chairs consultations for southern European countries on the eastern Mediterranean crisis
Tensions rose between the European Union and NATO member Turkey after sending a Turkish reconnaissance ship to explore for oil and gas in areas of the eastern Mediterranean that claim sovereignty over Greece and Cyprus.
The seven member states of the European Union bordering the Mediterranean met in Corsica, France, and in a joint statement published on Thursday, they affirmed their “full support and solidarity with Cyprus and Greece in the face of the repeated violations of their sovereignty, as well as the actions of confrontation by Turkey “.
“We believe that in light of the lack of progress in Turkey’s participation in the dialogue and unless it ceases its unilateral activities, the European Union is ready to draw up a list of additional punitive measures that can be discussed in the European Council. September 24-25, “the statement added.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the European Parliament yesterday that his country is ready for dialogue with the European Union, but without preconditions.
Turkish reconnaissance ship escorted by warships in Greek waters
Cavusoglu considered that the European Union does not have jurisdiction to consider the issue of maritime borders between Turkey and Greece, and that it must adhere to neutrality in the conflict in the eastern Mediterranean.
In a speech to the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee via video link, Cavusoglu said that Turkey is ready for an “unconditional” dialogue with Greece and the European Union, and is also “ready to reduce tension.”
He expressed his support for German mediation, adding: “We are ready for dialogue without preconditions.” Cavusoglu also considered that “Greece is building alliances to isolate Turkey.”
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