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* Photo & News: Anadolu Agency (AA)
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Turkey is ready for talks with Greece amid ongoing tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, said Ömer Çelik, the Spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), yesterday (September 22).
"There is no problem for Turkey beginning negotiations," said Celik, addressing the reporters after a Central Decision and Executive Board meeting at party headquarters in the capital Ankara.
"If someone brings their maximalist demands to the table and says 'give up your own rights and interests,' there will be no negotiations," Çelik added, referring to the demands expressed by Greece so far.
He stressed that Turkey favors "negotiation and diplomacy" but without conditions. "We are a deep-rooted state that feels responsible for regional peace, and we act with this responsibility," he added.
Çelik also accused France of acting to protect "special interests" instead of contributing to regional peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
'The US has lost its neutrality'
As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), other highlights from Çelik's remarks were as follows:
"We are the best partner for those who want to come to table to solve problems. For those who want to get results on a win-win basis and proceed on a righteous and legal basis, there is no better partner than Turkey.
"Based on a map called 'Seville Map' that no one considers to be legal and adopting a maximalist approach, Greece is seeking after some projects in an attempt to almost turn the Aegean into a Greek Lake. This, of course, does not mean sincerity in diplomacy.
"Turkey has always said this: 'If you want to come to table without any preconditions, go ahead, let's do it.' They say, 'Turkey should stop threatening and blackmailing.'
"Whom did Turkey threaten or blackmail? They are the ones who came to Meis Island and provoked. They are the ones who made various maneuvers to give the Oruç Reis Vessel a hard time.
"The encouragement of the Greek Cypriots in Southern Cyprus by the EU and the US does not make a positive contribution to resolution of the problems here; on the contrary, it makes a negative contribution.
"Losing its neutrality, the US has both lifted the arms embargo and included the Greek side in its military training program.
"Afterwards, in violation of diplomatic practices, US Secretary of State Pompeo visited Cyprus Island, but only went to the Greek side. Now, this is not a sound approach that will help one to get any results."
To Armenia: Stop playing with fire
On an Azerbaijani soldier killed on Monday (September 21) in an attack reportedly launched by Armenia, Çelik warned Yerevan, saying such offensives are "unacceptable" for Turkey.
"Armenia should know that it is playing with fire," he added. "Armenia, which occupied Upper Karabakh unlawfully and unjustly, is carrying out these attacks in the Tovuz region," Çelik said.
He also accused Armenia of being "the focal point of the instability and activities causing turmoil in the region."
"Turkey, unconditionally, stands with Azerbaijan and its Azerbaijani brothers," he said. "Our brother who was martyred in Azerbaijan is also our martyr." (EKN/SD)
