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Brussels – The European Union has issued warnings in strong language to Turkey at a time when the latter does not hesitate to continue its violations of the eastern Mediterranean.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday that Turkish officials’ statements on Cyprus increase tension with the bloc and that Ankara must realize that its behavior “widens the gap” between this country and Cyprus. the European Union.
“We consider the recent actions taken by Turkey and the statements related to Cyprus to be inconsistent with UN resolutions and further fuel the tension,” Borrell said at a press conference after a meeting with the foreign ministers of the United States. countries of the bloc.
“It is important for Turkey to realize that its behavior widens the gap that separates it from the European Union … to return to a positive atmosphere, as we hope, will require a radical change in the approach that the Turkish side is taking.
Borrell was referring to statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he called for a solution to establish equal “two states” in Cyprus during a visit he made this week to the northern part of the island led by Turkish Cypriots, which Cyprus described as “provocative and illegal”.
Erdogan said Turkey and Northern Cyprus will not tolerate from now on what he described as “diplomatic tricks” in an international dispute over rights to offshore resources in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The European Union threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey at a meeting of bloc leaders next month for what it saw as illegal drilling by Ankara at sea.
“Time is running out and we are approaching a watershed moment in our relationship with Turkey,” Borrell said.
It appears that the European Union, which has been slow to take drastic measures to deter Turkish violations, is wearing thin.
Germany, which is leading diplomatic efforts with Ankara, wants to give dialogue a chance due to the close trade ties between Turkey and the European Union.
Germany, through its Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, asked Turkey to stop its provocations in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean if it wanted to avoid any European sanctions.
Before meeting with his European Union counterparts, Maas said: “The decision to be made at the European Union summit in December is in the hands of Turkey.”
“If we don’t see any positive signals from Turkey for December, and there are only more provocative steps, such as Erdogan’s visit to northern Cyprus, then we will have a difficult debate,” he added.
He stressed that the issue of imposing sanctions on Turkey would then be raised again.
Last Sunday, a French minister spoke of “possible economic sanctions” from the European Union targeting sectors in Turkey due to its “hostile” positions on European borders, and stressed that Brussels will adopt a more severe and strict approach to curb current ones. Turkish rapes.
French Minister of State for European Affairs Clement Bonn said: “We gave Turkey a chance at the recent European summit which sent little hints of calm, and now it has once again chosen the path of provocation and systematic aggression. “and added:” Without a doubt, we will go further. “
Any new European sanction would deepen Turkey’s economic crisis due to Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s interventions in Libya and Syria, and he spent it on foreign wars that depleted state resources and caused the alienation of investors, due to security uncertainty. and the political future of Turkey.
Cyprus was divided after a Turkish invasion of the island in 1974, due to a military coup that took place at the behest of Greece and lasted for a short period.
Turkey is the only country that recognizes Northern Cyprus, while it does not have diplomatic relations with the government of Cyprus, a member of the European Union.
