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The German efforts to relax relations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey have failed for the time being.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) said on Monday in Brussels that there had been “far too many provocations”.

Therefore, the consequences will now have to be decided at the EU summit on Thursday and Friday.

Discussions are primarily on punitive measures for the Turkish gas exploration off Cyprus, which is considered illegal.

Greece is also calling for a general EU arms embargo against Turkey.

For such a step, however, the necessary approval of all other EU states is unlikely to be obtained for the time being.

"Our main concern within the European Union is to react to what has been discussed within the European Union for a very, very long time, particularly with regard to Cyprus," said Maas after consultations with the other EU foreign ministers.

In principle, Germany was of the opinion that the European Union should continue to have a dialogue with Turkey.

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At the same time, Maas was disappointed with the latest developments.

"Germany in particular has done a lot of work in recent weeks to reach compromises - also between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus," he said.

"Unfortunately, that didn't work."

The EU foreign affairs officer Josep Borrell made a similar statement after the consultations with the EU foreign ministers.

The Spaniard stated that the situation had deteriorated further.

Nobody could see a major change in Turkish behavior.

Erdogan warns the EU against instrumentalization by Greece

The main issue in the conflict with Turkey is that Greece and Cyprus are accusing Turkey of illegally exploring natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Turkish government rejects the allegations and takes the position that the search for natural gas is lawful and only takes place in sea areas that belong to the Turkish continental shelf.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that it was not possible for Turkey, with the longest coast in the Mediterranean, to remain viewers of developments in the region.

Ankara represents its own interests and those of the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey has repeatedly expressed that it will not bow to "threats and blackmail" and that it will not allow imperialism, he said.


Erdogan also warned the EU against instrumentalization by Greece.

The European Union must free itself from its "strategic blindness" as soon as possible and must not allow it to be used by Greece and the Greek Cypriots as a "battering ram in the eastern Mediterranean," said Erdogan in a video message.

He still wanted a conference with all the actors involved.

"We expect our contact persons not to let the hand that Turkey has stretched out in the air."

In the EU, however, such statements are no longer taken seriously.

Erdogan recently caused new problems with a visit to the coastal settlement of Varosha, formerly inhabited by Greek Cypriots, in the former tourist town of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after a Greek coup and Turkish military intervention.

In the north there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey.

The Republic of Cyprus, which has been an EU member since 2004, only controls the south of the island.