Turkey warns EU it would retaliate if it imposes new sanctions, accuses south Cyprus of claiming ownership of the island

Turkey has warned the European Union that it will retaliate if it decides to impose new sanctions on it over the ongoing dispute in the eastern Mediterranean ahead of a meeting bringing together the bloc’s 27 members about the problems with Ankara.

Speaking in a joint press conference with EU’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell, on Monday, July 6 in Ankara, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said;

We observe that Turkey will be on the agenda of the EU in the coming days. Taking decisions against Turkey will not resolve the existing problems; on the contrary, it will deepen them. If the EU takes additional measures against Turkey, we’ll have to respond, Çavuşoğlu said.
If you further sanction Turkey, we also have steps to take in the field, in the eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said.

Borrell paid a two-day visit to Turkey and met with Çavuşoğlu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. His visit comes a week before the EU’s foreign affairs council and European Parliament will hold special sessions to discuss the ties with Ankara.

France called for the meeting of the 27 foreign ministers, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian hinted at further sanctions against Turkey in the context of ongoing disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and Libya.

Criticizing the EU for imposing political roadblocks in front of Turkey’s accession process to the 27 member-bloc, Çavuşoğlu singled out France and Greek Cyprus for blocking reconciliation efforts in Ankara-Brussels ties.

Don’t allow these two countries to take the EU hostage. This is not good for the EU, either, Çavuşoğlu told Borrell.

France is attacking Turkey because it has lost ground in the Libyan conflict, while Greek Cyprus denies the existence of Turkish Cypriots and their rights to hydrocarbon reserves, the foreign minister said, suggesting that the EU should act as an honest broker in resolving the conflict.

The EU ought to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, Çavuşoğlu said, adding that Turkey would follow a more flexible stance in the event that Turkish Cypriots felt their rights were being protected.

The minister emphasized that Turkey was not responsible for the “deadlock” in the eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus.

Speaking on the Cyprus issues
Turkey might not recognise Cyprus, but it is an EU member state and a solution must be found to the energy and delimitation issue to satisfy both sides, Josep Borrell told Cavusoglu.

What I have done here is to ensure that negotiations begin, he said, adding that there could be negotiations between Turkey and the EU or between Turkey and EU member states with the participation of the EU and the UN.
Turkey does not recognise it, but the Republic of Cyprus is a member of the EU. But at the same time, a solution must be found that satisfies both sides. Negotiations between Greece and Turkey should begin, he said.

He added that the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriots, Greece, Turkey, the EU, and the UN could all meet.

He recalled that elections for the new Turkish Cypriot leader would take place in October and said that some say that any procedures must wait until then.

Cavusoglu, though stating Turkey is willing to talk with the bloc and expects the EU to be part of the solution, called on the bloc to be an honest broker.

If the EU, on the matter of the Mediterranean and Cyprus, instead of displaying a concept of solidarity, mediates honestly, then it will be able to contribute to the solution of the problems, he said.

He also said that, for Ankara to show flexibility on the issue of Cyprus and of the “unilateral” drilling activities of the Greek Cypriots, the rights of the Turkish Cypriots should be guaranteed and that the proceeds should be shared.

He said a direct agreement between the two sides was not necessary but that an EU mechanism could be put in place.

The only problem, he said, is the Greek Cypriot side that see themselves as the sole owners of the island.

So far, the problem was not solved. Therefore, I say the EU must be part of the solution, Cavusoglu said. He added that the Greek Cypriot side joined the EU contrary to international law.

He also called on the EU not to act based on political motives, but on common values, and adopt an approach on practical matters regarding Turkey’s accession process, pointing out that Cyprus and Greece, that have blocked some chapters as regards Ankara’s candidacy, “have taken our relations hostage”.  Cavusoglu also said that lately, France too has been placing obstacles.

We see that there is involvement in the issue of the eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue. And we are not the cause of that. Turkey, as the guarantor, is responsible for the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and our rights in our continental shelf, he said.

No comments

Thanks for viewing, your comments are appreciated.

Disclaimer: Comments on this blog are NOT posted by Olomoinfo, Readers are SOLELY responsible for their comments.

Need to contact us for gossips, news reports, adverts or anything?
Email us on; olomoinfo@gmail.com

Powered by Blogger.