[ad_1]
Brussels, Giannis Paleologos
It is in the interest of the EU. “To develop a really constructive relationship with Turkey,” said Angela Merkel, who attended the extraordinary summit.
The German chancellor added that she is not in favor of imposing sanctions on Ankara.
For its part, the “full solidarity” of the EU. in Greece and Cyprus on the issue of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, said Charles Michel. “We need more stability, more predictability” in the region, the EU stressed, speaking of the need. defend the “sovereign rights” of its members. “There are different options on the table,” said the President of the European Council, noting that today is the opportunity for the Union to clarify what it expects from its future relationship with Turkey.
Turkey’s listing is under negotiation.
Without a solution to the issue of linking the sanctions against Belarus and the new sanctions against Ankara, the Extraordinary Summit is currently underway. The objective of the intensive consultations of the President of the European Council is to reach unanimity on sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, but Nicosia, according to diplomatic sources, for the moment insists on not giving its consent unless there are new measures against Ankara.
According to a new draft of the Summit conclusions, which was leaked to the KYPE and which does not include the negotiated extract for Turkey, the European Council “condemns the unacceptable violence by the Belarusian authorities against peaceful protesters, as well as the intimidation, arrests and detentions. arbitrary after the presidential election, the results of which he does not recognize. ”
The Council declares that it “fully supports the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their president through new free and fair elections, without external interference” and “calls on the Belarusian authorities to put an end to violence and repression and to put an end to freedom for all detainees and political prisoners, respect the freedom of the media and civil society, and launch an inclusive national dialogue. ” The relevant passage concludes that “restrictive measures must be imposed … without delay.”
According to German diplomatic sources, Greece and Cyprus “must see their relations with Turkey improve steadily. This cannot be done immediately; some first steps have been taken, but many more must be followed.”
Meanwhile, after Charles Michel’s previous meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, Spanish sources highlighted Madrid’s support for German mediation in the de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Sánchez’s work in that direction. There should be solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, the same sources noted, but Spain has prioritized dialogue with Turkey from the beginning.
