Tensions in the Mediterranean: Macron and Erdogan explain themselves, Greeks and Turks ready to negotiate
After weeks of invective between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emmanuel Macron, it was time for explanations on Tuesday, September 22 during the UN GA.
REUTERS / Ludovic Marin
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Turkey and Greece seem to have opted for appeasement in the crisis between them in the eastern Mediterranean where the two countries are fighting over areas potentially rich in natural gas.
Ankara and Athens say they are ready to start exploratory negotiations, after weeks of tensions exacerbated by rival military maneuvers.
These tensions between Turkey and the countries of the European Union, in particular France which sided with Greece, was also discussed during the first day of the UN General Assembly.
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After weeks of invective between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emmanuel Macron, it was time for explanations on Tuesday, first via the speeches of the two heads of state on the occasion of the
UN General Assembly
.
Due to the health crisis, no president or head of government had made the trip.
The speeches were pre-recorded and broadcast from the gallery in New York.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed a regional conference on the Eastern Mediterranean: “
Our priority is to settle disagreements through sincere dialogue on the basis of international law and on an equal footing.
However, we will not tolerate any imposed measure, no harassment, no attack
.
"
Telephone interview
Emmanuel Macron recalled the rules necessary for any dialogue between allies.
“
We Europeans are ready for dialogue, for the essential construction of a pax mediterranea.
But not at the cost of intimidation.
Not at the cost of the logic of the strongest.
With respect for international law, cooperation and respect between allies.
These principles are non-negotiable.
"
In the evening, the two presidents spoke by telephone.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expects from Paris "
a constructive attitude
" in
the crisis which opposes it to Greece
.
Emmanuel Macron, for his part, asked his Turkish counterpart to commit "
unambiguously
" to a de-escalation of tensions.
►
To read: Tensions in the Mediterranean: Europe between threats and dialogue with Turkey
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