Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Turkey Condemns ‘Unacceptable’ EU Comments on Greece, Cyprus

Turkey Condemns ‘Unacceptable’  EU Comments on Greece, Cyprus

ANKARA - Turkey on Friday condemned a statement by European Union leaders bitterly critical of Ankara’s policies towards bloc members Cyprus and Greece, raising tensions just days ahead of a key summit. “The statement that was issued contained unacceptable comments against our country that serve the interests of Greece and the Greek Cypriots,” foreign ministry spokesman HamiAksoy told reporters in response to Thursday’s EU statement. EU President Donald Tusk and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker are due on Monday to hold talks with Turkish President RecepTayyipErdogan in the Bulgarian city of Varna.
Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik later said Ankara “cannot accept” the statement just before the summit in the Black Sea city. “We consider the Turkey-EU summit of March 26 in Varna to be an important opportunity to move relations forward. We expect the same positive and constructive approach from the EU,” Celik said on Twitter. The statement by the 28 EU member states meeting in Brussels called out Turkey for “illegal actions” towards Greece and Cyprus, after Ankara’s arrest of two Greek soldiers and its promise to prevent the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas. (AFP)