EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that intentions and announcements need to be translated into actions, speaking ahead of a meeting today with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Borrell also referred to a UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres initiative for the resumption of Cyprus reunification talks, noting that the EU is “fully committed to support a speedy resumption of negotiations.”
In statements ahead of the meeting, Borrell stated the following: “I am very pleased to welcome here in Brussels, at the headquarters of the European External Action Service, my colleague and friend, the Turkish Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. We will spend some time taking stock of the relations between the European Union and Turkey and we will discuss the way forward.”
“Last year has been a complicated year for these relations. Recently, we have seen, from both parts, an improvement in the overall atmosphere and some important steps. And this meeting today is also an important step in the direction of looking for a mutual strategic interests, the development of a cooperative and reciprocal relationship anchored in common values and principles”, the HRVP noted.
“Another good step is the announced resumption of direct exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece. Such efforts have to be maintained. Intentions and announcements need to be translated into actions”, the HRVP stated.
“Another important step are the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General [António] Guterres for a resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks under United Nations auspices. We are fully committed to support a speedy resumption of those negotiations”, Borrell noted.
“We strongly wish to see a sustainable de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, but in the wider region also,” he noted.
“I am sure that we can engage more in a substantive dialogue to strengthen the importance of the political processes related to regional conflicts, be it in Libya, Syria or Nagorno Karabakh,” Borrell said.
“We will talk also with full respect for each other, and in a frank and open way, about the political situation in Turkey and the prospects of accession”.
“We are sure that the vibrant Turkish society will highlight the need for a dialogue. We remain concerned about the situation in Turkey from the point of view [of rule of law and human rights situation] because it is an important neighbour and we want to build with Turkey a common and shared future”, the High Representative concluded.
On his side the Foreign Minister noted that “we will have a very full schedule today and tomorrow. 2020 was a troubled year for Euro-Turkish relations. The December summit was a positive development to create a more positive atmosphere. It favoured the resumption of the dialogue between the two sides. Our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited Josep Borrell and Ursula von der Leyen to Turkey.”
“It is important to create a positive atmosphere in Turkey-EU relations. Today, of course, we will have a meeting with Josep Borrell. We have put forward a very detailed proposal for a conference on the Eastern Mediterranean. We will discuss these again. We will also discuss the steps we could take with regard to visa liberalisation.”
“We will convey to our interlocutors our expectations during the meetings we will hold today and tomorrow. I hope all these meetings are positive”, he concluded.