"Any open issue should be addressed in a peaceful manner, through dialogue, in good faith, in full respect of international law and in accordance with the principle of good neighbourly relations".
Harder than ever is the Commission's message to Ankara over its provocative behaviour, with Brussels recalling last year's summit decisions on "appropriate response" (possible sanctions) in the opposite case.
"Turkey must stop all threats and actions that harm good neighbourly relations and respect the sovereignty of all EU member states in their territorial waters and airspace," Commission Spokesperson for External Affairs Peter Stano said when asked by APE-MPA about Ankara's continued provocations.
At the same time, Stano noted that "any open issue should be addressed in a peaceful manner, through dialogue, in good faith, in full respect of international law and in accordance with the principle of good neighbourly relations".
"Regarding the relations between the EU and EU Member States with Turkey, the EU has been and remains very clear: We expect Turkey to behave constructively, to refrain from escalatory steps, rhetoric or actions and to commit to building good neighbourly relations and not the other way around," the Commission spokesperson stressed, stating that "otherwise, the EU and its member states would be forced to consider an appropriate response. This was clearly stated twice last year by European leaders and this remains our position to this day," he warned.
In addition, Peter Stano stressed that "the EU has been very clear on many occasions that we are willing and ready to engage with Turkey in a gradual, proportionate and reversible way to enhance cooperation in various areas of common interest, under defined conditions," noting however that Ankara should "commit to de-escalation and de-escalation must be maintained."
"Smells" behind the scenes the sudden change of climate that seems to be observed in Turkey in the meantime regarding Greece, and it remains to be seen whether it will last In the wake of Houloussi Akar's statements, SKAI's Istanbul correspondent Manolis Kostidis revealed on Thursday a message from the Turkish Defense Minister to Greece.
"Say hello to Athens, say hello to Greece," he said. Manolis Kostidis was impressed by his calmness and the message he wanted to send, he commented.
Since Sunday something has been done, there was the meeting of the Turkish presidential spokesman and Erdogan's confidant, Ibrahim Kalin, he had a meeting with the US national security adviser and diplomatic officials of Germany and the UK where the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean were also discussed, Manolis Kostidis commented.
Source: AMPE skai.gr
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