3 yıl önce

Turkey vows to put EU ties 'back on track'

President Erdogan says he wants to improve ties with EU and is hoping for same "goodwill" from 27-nation bloc. Separately, FM Cavusoglu calls for EU accession reforms, saying "Turkey is in Europe, and Europe is part of our destiny."

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Turkish President Erdogan gives a speech on relations with the European Union at a meeting with envoys of EU states in Ankara, Turkey on January 12, 2021.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey is ready to set a "positive agenda" with the EU, using a long-term perspective to help get relations with the bloc back on track.

In a meeting with the ambassadors of EU member states on Tuesday, Erdogan said he expects the envoys to support "turning a new page" in Turkish-EU relations.

"It is in our hands to successfully transform EU-Turkish relations in 2021," he told the gathering at the official Cankaya Palace in the capital Ankara.

In order to improve relations, Erdogan reiterated the need for the EU to tackle the menace of anti-Muslim prejudice in their countries.

"In addition to threatening the security of nearly six million people living in Europe, Islamophobia is turning into a big black hole in terms of European values," Erdogan said.

"We are ready to put our relations back on track," Erdogan told the envoys.

"We expect our European friends to show the same goodwill."

Reset with Greece, France

Turkey and Greece this week agreed to address their long-standing row over maritime borders at exploratory talks in Istanbul on January 25.

The meeting will be the first since negotiations between the two uneasy NATO neighbours broke down after 60 fruitless rounds stretching 14 years in 2016.

"We believe that the exploratory talks with Greece ... will be the harbinger of a new era," Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that he was open to better relations with Paris after months of personal feuds with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We want to save our relations with France from tensions," Erdogan said.

'Europe is part of our destiny'

The gathering with the president followed a similar meeting on Tuesday between Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, with the EU envoys.

Echoing the president's remarks, Cavusoglu told ambassadors Turkey is determined to press ahead on EU accession reforms as "Turkey is in Europe, and Europe is part of our destiny."

After a year of ups and downs, Turkish leaders have said they hope for progress in ties with the EU this year, and expect the bloc to take clear steps towards this goal.

Turkey has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2005, but progress towards its accession has been stalled for years.

Turkey's role in migration highlighted

Cavusoglu highlighted the country's large role in the security of Syria, Libya, the Caucasus, Balkans, the Middle East, and the Black Sea regions.

He also stressed Turkey's role in migration, energy, trade, supply chains, transportation, communication, security, counter-terrorism, and NATO.

"All these issues are vital for both the security and prosperity of Europe. If we act together, we can make significant changes in all areas. As Turkey, we are ready for this partnership," he said.

Cavusoglu said the desired cooperation between Turkey and the EU had failed to materialise over the years due to some bilateral issues that remained unsolved, and this was also a loss for Europe.

"Turkey is dependent on the EU accession process. If we find a positive response from the EU, we also show the necessary will," he said.

SOURCE: AAAFP