Turkey hopes to turn a new page with the European Union and put an end to the tension simmering on various issues.
"While Turkey hopes to turn a new page with the EU, some ceaselessly try to provoke crises," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel in a telephone call, according to a statement from the Turkish Presidency.
“During the call, President Erdogan stated that Turkey aimed to build its future with the EU and that they considered every positive step in Turkey-EU ties as a window of opportunity,” the presidency said.
Erdogan also reiterated that Turkey was ready to launch bilateral talks with Greece on their maritime claims, but accused Athens of “running from talks”.
At a summit on Friday, EU leaders agreed to prepare limited sanctions on Turkish individuals over a row with members Greece and Cyprus over hydrocarbon exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, but postponed discussions on any harsher steps until March.
Stressing that Turkey’s policy on the Eastern Mediterranean is based on law and justice, Erdogan said that the Turkish side is always making the necessary efforts for a fair, permanent, and sustainable solution in the region.
He repeated a call for a regional Eastern Mediterranean conference.
An EU diplomat said that Michel briefed Erdogan about the conclusions of the EU leaders’ council on the Eastern Mediterranean (December 10-11), as he stressed the need for consistent and in-depth de-escalation of tension, as well as a restart of exploratory talks with Greece.
Michel also urged the restart of talks under the aegis of the United Nations toward resolving the Cyprus issue.
The diplomat added that they both agreed to keep the communication channels open.
