The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara on December 14, 2020. -
/ AP / SIPA
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to reduce the pressure put on him by the European Union and the United States.
The Turkish president thus affirmed Tuesday evening his wish to open “a new page” with the European Union during a telephone interview with the president of the European Council Charles Michel.
It must be said that the current diplomatic climate is particularly tense.
The leaders of the European Union meeting in summit in Brussels decided on December 10 to sanction the “illegal and aggressive” actions of Turkey in the Mediterranean against Greece and Cyprus.
Sanctions imposed by the United States against Turkey, for the acquisition by Ankara of a Russian air defense system, were added on Monday to those decided by the EU.
Search for "mutual interests"
Even if it seems to call for dialogue, Ankara's speech is still tinged with reproaches.
"While Turkey wishes to open a new page with the EU, some are constantly making efforts to provoke crises," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a press release from the Turkish presidency.
Calling to "save" relations between Turkey and Europe from "this vicious circle", the Turkish head of state also expressed his wish to "start again" to speak with the EU by "looking at the situation as a whole. "And" on the basis of mutual interests ".
According to Erdogan, the migration pact signed in 2016 between Turkey and the EU could be a starting point to create a more “positive” climate.
"We hope that the EU can adopt a constructive and common sense attitude towards Turkey," said the Turkish president.
Now see what Europe will think of it.
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