The violation of the maritime area of a European country by Turkey is absolutely unacceptable French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday.
Addressing a seminar in Paris of French Ambassadors accredited to European countries, in the presence of his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, Le Drian noted that it would be a serious mistake to let the security for the Mediterranean in the hands of others.
Le Drian said, inter alia, that “when one of us is faced with an offensive and unacceptable policy, we have to respond collectively, because this is a threat against the sovereignty and the interests of the EU.”
He noted that the EU is ready for dialogue, however it is also ready to explicitly express itself through sanctions if this is required, adding that this was decided during the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers last week in Berlin.
We are mobilizing all available diplomatic and operational means, aiming at creating the conditions that will allow a constructive dialogue with Ankara, he noted, adding that there is convergence of views on this between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Le Drian stressed that the aim is to safeguard security and sovereignty.