Erdoğan tells Merkel EU succumbed to blackmail from Greek side
Holding a video conference with the German chancellor on Tuesday, Turkish President Erdoğan told Merkel that the European Union succumbed to blackmail from Greece and Cyprus. During the call, Erdoğan also stressed that the EU summit decisions were not sufficient to overcome problems.
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- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 03:15 | 06 October 2020
- Modified Date: 03:26 | 06 October 2020
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that last week's European Union summit decisions were not sufficient to overcome problems in relations between Ankara and the bloc, the Turkish presidential sources said on Tuesday.
According to the information released by the authorities, Erdoğan spoke to Merkel by video conference and told her that the EU "succumbed to blackmail" from Greece and Cyprus, with whom Turkey is involved in a maritime-claims dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"CHANCE FOR LIBYA PEACE SHOULD NOT BE WASTED"
Erdoğan on Tuesday said the peace drive to end the conflict in Libya since 2011 should not be wasted, in a video conference with German Chancellor Merkel.
Erdoğan told Merkel that "the opportunity that emerged thanks to the calm sustained on the field in Libya should not be wasted," the Turkish presidency said.
Turkey strongly backs the Tripoli government providing military support following an April 2019 offensive by putschist general Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Erdoğan on Sunday expressed "full solidarity" with the GNA after a meeting in Istanbul with its head Fayez al-Sarraj.