Ankara expects its allies to support its anti-terror efforts rather than just saying "we understand your concerns", says Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Türkiye has voiced concerns over Germany's counter-terrorism efforts and said it expects concrete steps.
"We see an increase in (terrorist) PKK activities in Germany, and have conveyed Türkiye's concerns ... we expect concrete action," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Istanbul on Friday.
Cavusoglu said Türkiye expects its allies to support its anti-terror efforts rather than just saying "we understand your concerns."
Türkiye expects the European Union to lift political obstacles for its membership in the bloc, Cavusoglu said, and also conveyed Ankara's apprehensions over rising xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe.
Cavusoglu on Greek pushbacks of migrants:
- Greek propoganda shouldn't lead to imbalance
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) July 29, 2022
- Frontex is complicit in Greek migrants pushbacks
- Greece not able to respond to int law pic.twitter.com/lrYNcKCpiE
On Greek propaganda
Cavusoglu urged Germany to be wary of provocations and propaganda by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, stressing for the need for a balanced stance.
Arguing that Germany lost its impartiality, Cavusoglu said: "Germany should keep its balanced attitude regarding the Aegean and East Mediterranean."
The Turkish minister said that turning a blind eye to Greece's human rights abuses is violation of international law.
"Greece's pushbacks, leaving people to die does not amount to protecting EU borders. It is inhumane to turn a blind eye ... I would've respected if the minister (Baerbock) mentioned about European Convention on Human Rights' decisions that have not been implemented in Greece for 14 years (on Turkish minority)," Cavusoglu said.
The top Turkish diplomat also mentioned Greek militarisation of Eastern Aegean islands, and lambasted Germany for siding with Athens "just because it is an EU member."
She also called praised the recent Ankara-brokered Ukraine grain deal, saying it was a "great success."
READ MORE: Germany's remarks on Ankara-Athens relations ‘unacceptable’: Türkiye
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Source https://www.globalcourant.com/turkiye-criticises-germanys-anti-terror-efforts-expects-concrete-steps/?feed_id=3985&_unique_id=62e432c7ed2d1
إرسال تعليق