Merkel, Macron urge Turkey, Greece to resume direct talks

Photo: AA

Germany's Chancellor Angella Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron of France called for de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and said they would support diplomatic efforts to resolve maritime boundary disputes between Greece and Turkey. 

Merkel reiterated her call on Athens and Ankara to resume direct talks to resolve their long-standing disputes and said Berlin and Paris would enhance their cooperation to facilitate a diplomatic solution.

"We need stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, not tensions. We are aware of the critical situation there. I am confident that if Germany and France join their forces, hopefully, we can find a good solution, which can make cooperation possible," Merkel told a joint news conference Macron, following their meeting at Macron's presidential mansion of Fort de Bregancon on the Mediterranean coast.

Merkel also underlined that it was important to maintain unity among EU member states, and demonstrate solidarity with EU members Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration.

Meanwhile, Macron renewed his criticism of Turkey, but also expressed readiness to promote a constructive dialogue among all states in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey, to de-escalate tensions and resolve current disputes.

He also argued that recent diplomatic initiatives of Germany and France on the Eastern Mediterranean were not contradictory but complementary, and said they were pursuing the same goals, such as supporting the sovereign rights of EU member states and protecting stability in the region.

He underlined the importance of Merkel's diplomatic initiative and said Paris will support Berlin's efforts.

Foreign Minister: Greece harms the EU's interests

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the EU to urge Greece and Southern Cyprus for restraint rather than Turkey amid escalating tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"If the EU wants to be a part of the process that aims for peace, prosperity and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, it must be objective and honest. As shared with the public earlier, the calls for restraint should be directed to Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, which harm EU's interests and escalate the tension by exploiting the EU membership solidarity, rather than Turkey on the side of dialogue and cooperation," Hami Aksoy, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in a written statement yesterday.

His remarks came as a response to a statement by the EU following a videoconference on Wednesday.

Aksoy said the statement shows that the EU is "held hostage to the manipulation and blackmail of the two member states."

He also stressed that Turkey will not abdicate its rights, yet, continue to support negotiations and respond to positive steps around good neighborly relations and in line with international law.

Greece: EU's stance against Turkey different than Belarus

Greece's PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday criticized the EU for "adopting a different stance on Belarus and another on Turkey," the Greek City Times reported. 

During the EU's extraordinary meeting, Mitsotakis said that Europe cannot adopt "two meters and two weights" for Belarus and Turkey and that the EU approach in terms of human rights and the rule of law can not be different for Belarus and different for Turkey.

In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "These are different cases, we have a long history with Turkey," adding that "all options are on the table" regarding Ankara's activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

(VK)