Turkey’s top diplomat on Wednesday reiterated the country’s position that it saw its future with the EU, but that before its accession could take place, existing issues would need to be overcome
Speaking at the fourth TRT World Forum in a panel titled New Realities and Interstate Relations After coronavirus, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu delivered remarks on diplomatic interactions under the shadow of the novel coronavirus outbreak, as well as multilateralism and Turkey’s foreign policy in general.
“TURKEY’S PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO PROTECT ITS RIGHTS”
“Turkey is a strong NATO ally and sees its future in the European Union,” Cavusoglu said. “Once we overcome the current confusion existing mostly on the European side, I believe that the historic step of Turkey’s accession to the EU can be taken.”
He suggested that the resolution of ongoing disputes between Ankara and Brussels would have a “transformative effect” on Turkey’s wider neighborhood as well.
Commenting on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, where tension has been igh since the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves, Cavusoglu said his country’s primary concern was to protect its rights, along with those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
According to the minister, Greece and Greek Cypriots are trying to impose their “unilateral and maximalist” agenda on Turkey, abusing EU solidarity to promote their “nationalist agenda” of these members.