The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) exchange views with Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the European Parliament in Brussels on the current tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Brussels

exchange of views

EU - Greece (T)

meeting

EU - Türkiye (T)

GAHLER, Michael (EPP, DE)

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

AZMANI, Malik (Renew, NL)

LAGOS, Ioannis (NI, EL)

ÇAVUSOGLU, Mevlüt (TR)

EU - Turkey: extracts from the exchange of views with Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), We have witnessed an alarming military buildup in the eastern Mediterranean during the past few weeks. We are all very concerned by the risk of a direct military confrontation. The position of this Committee is clear, a de-escalation is urgently needed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, Turkey is ready for re-engagement and for de-escalation. We keep our resolve to enhance our relations with the European Union with constructive spirit and in line with our accession perspectives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, Current tensions in Izmit are caused by unilateral actions by Greece and Greek Cypriots violating the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, By acting as an international court defending one side's claims over the issue, the EU has become a part of the problems, unfortunately. However, even the European Court of Justice has ruled that the Union has no jurisdiction over maritime border disputes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sergey LAGODINSKY (Greens/EFA, DE), We are going to a war of words and even worse around fossil fuels, which have increasingly less and less strategic meaning in the world where we're talking about Green Deal.

SOUNDBITE (German), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), I have a specific question for you as your Greek colleagues said this morning that we are prepared to submit this matter to the International Court. And I find that to be a very good offer. My question to you is, would you be equally prepared to embark on that path together with Greece and Cyprus?

SOUNDBITE (English), Malik AZMANI (RE, NL), I find it difficult to understand why you recently made a statement in which you remarked that if Greece were to extend its territorial waters, it would be cause for war. Allow me to be clear. We Europe and I myself consider this as a threat, which we do not take lightly, as it's directed to a member of our EU family.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, Of course, renewable energy, we have been also investing, but there are resources. It seems that there are resources at the eastern Mediterranean as well. Why don't we share it? We just want equitable revenue sharing. We can share it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, How can we claim forty thousand square kilometres exclusive zone or continental for a very tiny island which is only two kilometres away from Turkey? This is unacceptable. Frankly speaking, and with regards to the International Courts, we are not against that. And actually first we have to make an agreement with Greece to take this issue to the International Court. That is why we have been proposing Greece to restart exploratory talks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mevl&#252;t &#199;AVUSOGLU, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, Introducing equitable revenue sharing mechanism in Cyprus. Fair enough. And creating an all inclusive multilateral process in Izmit for energy cooperation. Who is against who can be against this idea or preconditions? And finally, Greece has to also end intimidation of Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace.