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The EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels this Monday. It is mainly about one topic: Turkey. The EU calls on Head of State Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to correct course, especially in the gas dispute in the eastern Mediterranean. Some member states of the European Union are pushing for more sanctions against Turkey.
Erdoğan does not give the impression of wanting to get closer to the EU. In the gas dispute, Greece and Cyprus accuse Turkey of illegally exploring natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara, in turn, considers the search legitimate. Erdogan has now addressed Brussels directly with criticism and warned against the instrumentalization of Greece.
The European Union must free itself of its “strategic blindness” as soon as possible, Erdogan said in a video message. The EU must not allow Greece and the Greek Cypriots to use it as a “battering ram in the eastern Mediterranean”. Erdogan said it was not possible for Turkey, with the longest Mediterranean coastline, to remain a spectator of events in the region. Ankara represents its own interests and those of the Turkish Cypriots.
“Too many provocations”: Maas declares that German mediation efforts have so far failed
At the same time, Erdogan called for diplomacy to be given a chance so that a lasting solution could be found in the Mediterranean. “We believe that we cannot solve the problems in the Mediterranean by excluding each other, but by sitting at the table with all the actors in the region.” Erdogan said he still wanted to hold a conference with all the actors involved. . “We hope that our contact persons will not let go of the hand that Turkey extended in the air.”
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas declared that German efforts to relax relations between the EU and Turkey had failed for the time being. “In recent months, Germany has tried very hard to find a way to boost dialogue with Turkey,” said the SPD politician in Brussels. Unfortunately, due to tensions between Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, it was not possible to start direct talks. There were “too many provocations,” Maas said. Therefore, you will now be advised on the consequences.
A decision on how to proceed is expected at the EU summit this Thursday and Friday. The heads of state and government decided in early October to carry out an evaluation of Turkish politics.
