EU condemns Turkey over Hagia Sophia decision

* Photo: Dursun Aydemir- Brussels/AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of European Union (EU) member states in Brussels, Belgium yesterday (July 13), High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell Fontelles addressed the reporters.

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"On Turkey we had a long and interesting debate," Borrell started his remarks about Turkey and briefly added the following:

'Turkey's unilateral actions must end'

"We reiterated that we see Turkey as an important country for the EU with whom we would wish to see our relations strengthened and developing. This should be done in respect of EU values, principles and interests.

"There was a consensus among Member States that the European Union - Turkey relations are currently under continuous strain. There are worrying developments, in particular in the Eastern Mediterranean and regarding Libya that affect directly our interests.

"Thus, several serious issues must be addressed by Turkey in order to change the current confrontational dynamic and create an environment of trust with Turkey, which everybody wishes.

"But, we stress also that Turkey's unilateral actions, in particular in the Eastern Mediterranean, which run counter to EU interests, to the sovereign rights of EU Member States and to international law, must come to an end.

Emphasis on arms embargo

"We also agreed to call on Turkey to contribute actively to a political solution in Libya and to respect the commitments it has taken in the framework of the Berlin process, including the United Nations arms embargo.

"We are doing our part - the European Member States are doing their part, in particular through Operation Irini, which provides a key contribution to ensure the respect of the arms embargo by all actors.

"We will consider ways to ensure the full effectiveness of the operation, with the aim of preventing escalation on the ground.

'Hagia Sophia decision will fuel mistrust'

"An important issue was about Hagia Sophia. The Council has condemned the Turkish decision to convert such an emblematic monument as Hagia Sophia back to a mosque. This decision will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine our efforts at dialogue and cooperation. There was broad support to call on the Turkish authorities to urgently reconsider and reverse this decision.

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"All in all, the final conclusion is that there was clearly a broad support for me to explore further paths that could contribute to lowering tensions and reach understandings on issues that are increasingly stressing the relations between Turkey and the European Union.

"Also, I will prepare options on further appropriate measures that could be taken in response to the challenges we are facing as a result of Turkish actions, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"In the meantime, work will also continue on additional listings within the existing sanctions framework as requested by Cyprus."

'Hagia Sophia decision is a blow'

As reported by Deutsche Welle Türkçe, Jean Asselborn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, briefly touched upon Turkey's decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque.

"When I see now what is happening with Hagia Sophia, that is a blow," he protested Turkey's decision about Hagia Sophia.

'We have strategic interests'

Earlier yesterday, Norbert Röttgen, the External Affairs Expert of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) spoke to ZDF TV channel.

"There is no sense in a further escalation with Turkey. The Europeans and Turkey are in a relation of mutual interest," he said, adding that "unfortunately, there is no bond between the two sides when it comes to the values of a democratic state and a rule of law."

Underlining that "Turks are economically and commercially dependent on the EU," Röttgen also reminded, "Turkey is of strategic importance for the EU in issues concerning Syria and Libya." (EKN/SD)