Turkey criticizes EU position on disputes in eastern Mediterranean

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has criticized a joint statement by EU foreign ministers on the issue of disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and called on the EU to consider international law as well as the legitimate rights and interests of Turkey.

"The statement by Foreign Ministers of the European Union on the disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean constitutes the latest exhibition of a repetitive and a barren discourse that serves no purpose," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a written statement on May 16.

This attitude remains indifferent to Turkey's genuine initiatives, said the spokesperson, noting that it is a by-product of "unjust and unlawful claims of Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration [GCA] and does not stand any chance of contributing to regional peace and stability."

"It is noteworthy that the solidarity, which the European Union has failed to demonstrate in the fight against COVID-19, is now rendered unconditionally when it is the Greek Cypriots in question," Aksoy said.

What the EU needs to do, instead of acting "blindly as the mouthpiece of Greece and the GCA under a pretext of solidarity," is to proceed with common sense while taking international law into consideration as well as the legitimate rights and interests of Turkey and Turkish Cyprus, he stated.

"We reiterate, as usual, our readiness for dialogue on an equitable basis," said the statement.

Last week, EU foreign ministers held a videoconference meeting and published a declaration that urged Turkey to "respect EU countries' maritime jurisdiction and sovereignty in territorial waters."

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