Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a teleconference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this afternoon on Eastern Mediterranean issues ahead of the EU summit.
According to Turkish media, Erdogan blamed Greece and Cyprus for the tension in the region, saying that the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are being ignored.
Erdogan said that Turkey had supported the dialogue from the beginning and was ready for exploratory talks with Greece, hoping, as he said, that the opportunity for diplomacy would not be lost once again.
As reported by protothema.gr, the Turkish president and the president of the European Commission also discussed EU-Turkey relations and other regional issues.
The president of the European Commission described the exchange she had with Tayyip Erdogan as “useful” while she notes that she “welcomes the planned launch of the talks” between Greece and Turkey.
As Ursula von der Leyen mentions in her tweet:
“Very useful exchange with President Erdogan on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and on migration.
I welcome the planned launch of talks with Greece, which are essential for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and for a constructive relationship with the EU.”
Very useful exchange with President @RTErdogan on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and on migration. I welcome the planned launch of talks with Greece, which are essential for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and for a constructive relationship with the EU. pic.twitter.com/5mWKTh6dZc
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 23, 2020
It is recalled that the EU Summit scheduled for September 24-25, focusing on Turkey, was postponed due to the fact that the President of the European Council Charles Michel was quarantined after a security officer tested positive for COVID-19.
The meeting of the 27 EU leaders will finally take place on 1-2 October.
