Eastern Mediterranean: EU Leaders’ Summit stems from Turkey embargo threat

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a statement at the EU leaders summit in Brussels, “Cyprus waters from Turkey should persist in its natural search efforts, said the embargo on the European Union could apply. ”

“If Ankara repeats these activities, the EU will use all the instruments and options at its disposal. We have a set of tools that we can put into practice immediately,” said Von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen “Mediterranean Turkey not to make a gesture towards Cyprus, they were received with sadness” saying “Ankara said they hope to refrain from taking unilateral measures, otherwise it will use all options in the hands of the EU,” he stressed.

“Of course the obvious choice of the embargo” Von der Leyen also said that “Turkey would benefit from strong cooperation with the EU,” he said.

European Council President Charles Michel de Von der Leyen and held a joint press conference, the leaders said in a statement following the consensus on sanctions against Belarus at the summit, “the summit in Turkey will be an important one in the next two weeks, “he said.

Michel also said that “Turkey will return to the issue at a summit in December,” he said.

President of the European Council “Bilaterally, we had a strategy, we said we wanted to give political dialogue an opportunity. On the other hand, our values ​​and we have demonstrated our commitment in support of Greece and Cyprus. Turkey wants to participate in a more positive way with us, and we are prepared for it, “he said.

German Chancellor Merkel Anglel said: “Continue down the path towards Ankara’s voltage drop,” she calls, “I hope that the negotiations with the dynamics of Turkey will be revealed again, as well as on the problems with Cyprus and Greece in the European Union with Turkey themes, “he said.

Meanwhile, the leaders also agreed to embargoes against Belarus.

Turkey’s embargo and the activities to be implemented in Belarus in the Eastern Mediterranean were linked to the two issues at the EU summit.

Because the Republic of Cyprus continues to press for concrete measures against Turkey and that he would like to take a step, he continued to block sanctions against Belarus that are not taken.

In her statement before the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that tension in the eastern Mediterranean should be reduced. Merkel stressed that they are determined “to find a peaceful solution to the problem.”

Referring to the importance of EU-Turkey relations, Merkel “Our relations with Turkey despite all the difficulties are inherently very complicated and there is great benefit in establishing constructive relations with the EU for Turkey,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron pointed out that the solidarity of EU members with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus “should not be a matter of negotiation.”

A similar statement came from the Austrian Prime Minister, Sebastian Kurz. Kruz, Turkey, said sanctions should receive a clear response, even.

Greek Prime Minister Kiryrakos Miçotakis said in a statement just before the summit: “One thing is certain: Turkish provocation can no longer be tolerated, either through unilateral actions or extreme rhetoric.”