Turkey will respond if the European Union imposes further sanctions on Ankara, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday after meeting with the EU’s top diplomat.
France’s foreign minister said last week that EU ministers would debate Turkey on July 13 and said further sanctions against Ankara could be considered, in addition to measures taken to drill Turkey in the Cyprus economic zone. .
“If the EU makes additional decisions against Turkey, we will have to respond to this,” Cavusoglu said at a press conference with the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in the Turkish capital.
As relations deteriorated between the bloc and Ankara, the European Union imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on two people in February for their role in drilling Turkey in the Cyprus maritime economic zone off the divided island. .
Cavusoglu rebuked the EU for failing to deliver on its promises and linking issues such as the Cyprus dispute and a 2016 migrant deal. He said Turkey would not allow Greece and Cyprus to take him hostage and called on the EU to be an “honest agent “
“We want to work with the EU … [but] If the EU makes additional decisions against Turkey, we will be forced to reciprocate. The situation will become more tense and this will not serve anyone. Our expectation is that the EU is not part of the problem but is part of the solution, “said Cavusoglu.
Libya conflict
Earlier this year, tens of thousands of migrants attempted to cross into Greece across land and sea borders after Ankara said it would no longer stop them. Flow has slowed since then, but Cavusoglu said Turkey “will continue to implement its decision.”
Cavusoglu also repeated a call for France to apologize after an incident between Turkish and French warships in the Mediterranean, prompting Paris to request a NATO investigation.
Last week, France temporarily suspended its role in a NATO maritime security operation after Paris accused Turkey of violating a UN arms embargo on Libya, where the two countries support different sides at war.
France’s temporary withdrawal from the Sea Guardian mission follows a dispute over whether a Turkish naval attack radar “ignited” a French frigate in the Mediterranean in June.
“France was not honest,” said Cavusoglu. “You need to apologize to Turkey and the EU and NATO for cheating on them.”
Relations between NATO members have deteriorated due to the conflict in Libya, where Turkey supports the internationally recognized government and accuses Paris of backing the eastern forces of Khalifa Haftar, who tried to capture the capital Tripoli for 14 months, but last month he was forced to withdraw. .
France denied supporting the Haftar offensive in the capital and accused Turkish warships of aggressive behavior.
‘Positive trajectory’
Turkey sent warships escorted to Cyprus to drill for gas, insisting that it is acting to protect its interests and those of the Turkish Cypriots of the area’s natural resources.
The Greek Cypriot government of the ethnically divided island has criticized Turkey for invading its waters and its economic rights. The EU has joined in defense of its member states, Greece and Cyprus.
Borrell said Turkey was a key partner for the EU despite relations “not having the best time,” and called for further dialogue to overcome tensions.
“Currently, the situation is far from ideal … We have a mutual interest in getting out of this situation and charting a new and positive trajectory,” said Borrell.
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