Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stressed that Europe would not stand silent in the face of provocations committed by Turkey, whether in Cyprus, Libya, Syria or northern Iraq.
Schallenberg claimed that “the latest developments prove once again that the European Union needs a new approach to relations with Turkey”.
In a statement published by the Egyptian newspaper ‘Al-Dustour’, Schallenberg criticized the decision of Turkey’s Supreme Court to convert the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque.
“Turkey is proving every day that it is not a reliable partner for Europe”, he said, indicating these developments must be rethought in light of the threat that the Turkish government poses to Europe.
In recent months, Schallenberg said that Turkey had failed to play a positive role on several levels, including oil and gas drilling off Cyprus and Greece, the controversial Turkish actions in Libya, Syria and northern Iraq, and most recently the repurposing of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
“The EU must conduct a policy towards Turkey with a strong edge and clear language. This must be based on a solid foundation of shared values. The EU should also make a clear cut on the subject of accession negotiations”, Schallenberg emphasized.
EU Foreign Ministers discussed the current developments in Libya, Hong Kong, Venezuela, and the Serbia-Kosovo issue. The situation in the Latin American and Caribbean countries particularly hard hit by COVID-19 was also discussed.