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AGAINST THE EU: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the other G20 leaders in Saturday’s video conference. Photo: Turkish Presidency via AP / NTB
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extends a hand to the EU. At the same time, he warns the union against manipulation due to rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish gas exploration in waters that Greece and Cyprus consider theirs has been condemned by the EU.
“We hope that the EU will keep its promises, not discriminate against us or at least not become a tool of open hostility directed at our country,” Erdogan said in a video address to the national meeting of the ruling Turkish party on Saturday.
Turkey was at the time in EU accession negotiations, but the process was halted under Erdogan’s leadership and was also met with opposition from several member states.
– We don’t see each other anywhere other than Europe. We envision building a future together with Europe, says Erdogan.
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Sanctions
EU leaders are expected to decide in December whether to impose new sanctions on Turkey.
The Turkish research ship Oruc Reis is today central to Turkey’s tense relations with Brussels. On Saturday, the Turkish authorities extended the search expedition until November 29, despite protests from Greece.
The Athens Foreign Ministry condemns the action.
“These actions, which basically exclude any prospect of improving relations between the EU and Turkey, take place while the Turkish authorities affirm that the country’s joining the EU is a” strategic priority, “he said in a statement.
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Will solve problems
In the same speech, Erdogan said that Turkey wants to “actively use its long-standing and close alliance with the United States to solve regional and global problems.”
Erdogan was not one of the first leaders to congratulate incoming President Joe Biden on his victory. Although he had close ties to Donald Trump, there have been some disagreements between the two countries.
Turkey’s purchase of a high-tech Russian missile defense system has enraged Washington. Ankara has vigorously protested that the United States refuses to extradite a preacher whom Erdogan accuses of organizing the failed 2016 coup.
