Turkey's Erdogan says East Med is test of EU's sincerity

 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, September 4, 2020. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

 

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday the EU's stance towards the East Mediterranean would be a test of its sincerity, calling on it to take an impartial stance in Turkey's row with Greece.

 

NATO allies Turkey and Greece have been locked in a dispute over hydrocarbon exploration in the sea's disputed waters and the extent of their continental shelves.

 

Provocative comments and steps by European politicians on regional matters would not help achieve a solution, Erdogan was cited as saying by his office.

 

"President Erdogan said the attitude shown by the EU in the Eastern Mediterranean will be a test of sincerity from the perspective of international law and regional peace," the statement said.

 

"President Erdogan called on EU institutions and member countries to behave responsibly and remain just, impartial and objective on all regional issues, notably the Eastern Mediterranean," it added.

 

Michel had said on Friday that European Union leaders will decide on a "carrot and stick" approach to Turkey when they meet on Sept. 24-25, proposing a conference to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Last month Turkey sent a seismic survey vessel for hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters in the region after a maritime deal between Greece and Egypt.

 

On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Greece and Turkey had agreed to start technical talks to avoid accidental clashes in the region.

 

The following day, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would start talks with Turkey to resolve a dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean once Turkish "provocations" ceased.

 

(Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-07

 

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More problems for the EU.

 

They really should have seen this coming. Trying to mould vastly different cultures and economies into a single happy club was never going to work. Especially when the prudent, wealthy northern "states" were supposed to transfer their wealth to the southern basket cases like Greece and Turkey. They should have forgotten about political alignment and a European superstate (lead by France and Germany) and kept it as a trading bloc.

 

At least the EU have nothing else to worry about at the moment, well apart from a No Deal Brexit and the 750 Billion Euro bailout fund post Covid. 

 

And why would the European Union stand down from protecting one of it´s member states from a non member state? Turkey shut down the talks about entering the EU 2016, after dragging on with an application since 1987. One of the most devious countries on the planet, with a president that should have been stripped from his powers long ago.

Edited September 7, 20205 yr by Matzzon

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Trying to mould vastly different cultures and economies into a single happy club was never going to work. Especially when the prudent, wealthy northern "states" were supposed to transfer their wealth to the southern basket cases

Seemed to be working for the UK (until now). 

 

EU should know better than to take the word of a dictator...

Erdog needs an extension to his Ak-sary $3billion palace and a bigger table so he wants some oil to pay for it simple as that don't upset him or he will have to fake another coup???? 

Versus Erdogan has no sincerity. EU owes him nothing.

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