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The European Union’s decisions on Turkey, issued on Friday, are not based on reality, although they have some positive points, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
“The declaration is an example of how some EU countries want to improve ties with our country, while others have been taken hostage by Greece and the Greek Cypriots,” the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Stressing that the reference to explanatory talks with Greece is a positive point, the Foreign Ministry corrected the EU statement reiterating that the talks are not about maritime border restrictions but about all the problems that Turkey and Greece have.
“The fact that the decisions do not mention the Turkish Cypriots or a fair distribution of hydrocarbon resources between the two parties shows that the EU mentality of overlooking Turkish Cypriots is resuming,” the ministry added.
The ministry also reiterated that until the Cyprus crisis is resolved, the recipient of the Greek Cypriots is the Turkish Cypriots, not Turkey.
“Therefore, the EU should have asked the Greek Cypriots to hold talks with the Turkish Cypriots, not with Turkey,” he said.
The ministry further expressed that it is not a constructive approach by the EU to refer to Turkey’s actions to protect its rights in the region as “illegal”.
“The EU should now realize that it cannot get anywhere with such rhetoric,” the ministry said.
Tensions have risen for weeks in the eastern Mediterranean, as Greece has disputed Turkey’s energy exploration.
Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, sent drilling ships to explore for energy on its continental shelf, asserting its own rights in the region, as well as those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC ).
To reduce tensions, Ankara has called for dialogue and negotiations to ensure a fair distribution of the region’s resources.
Ankara does not ‘celebrate’ the decision
During a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Friday, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also criticized the EU for its decision.
“Although we show good intentions in solving the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, we are determined to protect and defend our rights in the region,” he said.
“The EU decision on the eastern Mediterranean was problematic. Turkey will not celebrate the fact that the EU did not impose any sanctions,” Çavuşoğlu stressed.
Speaking to Reuters after the remarks, a Turkish official who requested anonymity said on Friday that Turkey would be even more determined to protect its territorial rights in the eastern Mediterranean if the EU decides on Friday to impose sanctions for offshore exploration.
The official said the sanctions would not deter Turkey and suggested they could jeopardize this month’s planned dialogue between Ankara and Athens over disputed maritime boundaries and oil and gas rights.
But “if the EU applies sanctions, this will not deter us. On the contrary, this would increase our resolve and would be a negative position on the part of the European Union,” he said.
“We will continue our program on the high seas as we have been doing. Sanctions are not the right way (and) they will not deter us from protecting our rights on our continental shelf and also the rights of Turkish Cypriots,” he added.
The EU learns a two-way strategy
EU leaders issued a statement on Friday warning Turkey to stop gas exploration activities in the waters claimed by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration and urging it to engage in talks.
The statement was agreed by the 27 EU leaders after seven hours of haggling, with Greece and in particular the Greek Cypriot administration pushing for a tougher line while other countries advocated for a more conciliatory approach towards Turkey.
European Council President Charles Michel said early Friday that the bloc agreed to adopt a two-way strategy towards Turkey and wants to give constructive political dialogue an opportunity, but warned that all options are on the table if that is not the case. .
In a press conference following the EU leaders’ summit, Michel said the main discussions at the meeting focused on the current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and EU-Turkey relations along with the sanctions on Belarus.
He said the EU pact encouraged political dialogue based on common interests, but added that the EU offered its full support to Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration and noted that the bloc expected Ankara to take positive action.
According to Michel, the EU would prefer to have a positive agenda with Turkey, which hopes not to take any unilateral action. She said the European pact also supports efforts to establish a dialogue between Athens and Ankara and the restart of the Cyprus negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.
Noting that the leaders who participated in the event suggested establishing a multilateral conference to resolve disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, he added that the European Council will monitor developments and reevaluate the issue once again in December.
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, also speaking at the press conference, said that the European pact called for collaboration with Turkey based on a positive agenda, but reiterated that the EU supports Greece and the Greek Cypriots.
He welcomed the start of a reliable dialogue between Athens and Ankara, but noted that the EU regretted the latter’s attitude towards the Greek Cypriot administration, which it does not recognize.
Von der Leyen warned that the EU would use all instruments and options if Turkey took unilateral action, but the bloc did not prefer it, as positive relations would benefit both parties.
He noted that updating the customs union, improving trade relations and cooperation on migration should be on the agenda of both Turkey and the EU, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted a hard blow to international trade.
According to the statement issued by the EU on the summit, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, was asked to organize a multilateral conference in the Eastern Mediterranean where multiple issues such as areas of maritime jurisdiction, security, energy, migration would be discussed. and economic cooperation. Participants, format and date have not yet been negotiated.
Merkel: EU is in favor of dialogue with Turkey
Later on Friday, German Chancellor Merkel said the EU wants to have a constructive dialogue and a positive agenda with Turkey.
“The EU summit is a ‘window of opportunity’ to cooperate closely with Turkey, the next talks will focus on the modernization of the Customs Union and the liberalization of visas,” Merkel said, adding that the issue of liberalization of visas will be discussed in December.
In March 2016, Ankara and Brussels signed an agreement to reduce the number of migrants taking the dangerous Aegean route to Europe and find a solution for the influx of refugees heading to EU countries.
Under the agreement, Turkey was promised a total of 6 billion euros ($ 6.77 billion) in financial aid, which was initially designed to be delivered to the country in two stages and to be used by the Turkish government to finance projects for Syrian refugees. Visa freedom for Turkish citizens was also part of the agreement. In addition, the customs union between Turkey and the EU was to be updated.
In exchange for these promises, Turkey took responsibility for discouraging migration across the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human smugglers and improving conditions for Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Despite significant progress in controlling migration trafficking, the EU has not fulfilled its commitments set out in the agreement.
Greece welcomes the EU decision
Meanwhile, Greece’s prime minister said on Friday that he was “absolutely satisfied” with the statement from the EU summit.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the EU had sent “a message of unity, solidarity and determination” that left Turkey with no doubt that it must stop its “unilateral actions”.
“He also made very clear the consequences that will occur if Turkey continues with its aggressive behavior,” he said. “Greece is absolutely satisfied with the results of the summit.”
Mitsotakis said Greece awaited the resumption of explanatory talks, which have stalled since 2016.
