German, Turkish Ministers Discuss Better EU-Turkish Ties As Tensions Ease In East Med

German, Turkish Ministers Discuss Better EU-Turkish Ties As Tensions Ease In East Med

ANKARA, Jan 19 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish and German foreign ministers, yesterday discussed recent advances between Ankara and Brussels, as tensions calm down in the Eastern Mediterranean, due to Turkey’s gas exploration activities in disputed waters.

Turkey and the European Union have a positive atmosphere in relations, since the bloc’s summit last Dec, but Ankara wants to see concrete steps to enhance relations, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu said, at a press conference with Germany’s Heiko Maas.

The dialogue between Turkey and the EU is getting better, thanks also to constructive steps from Europe, after the EU leaders’ summit, he said, noting that, Turkish and EU officials would have a series of meetings in the upcoming days.

He urged the EU to realise its promises to Turkey, such as, visa liberalisation, to enable free travels of Turks in the EU, upgrade of Customs Union deal, between Ankara and Brussels, along with updating a migration agreement with the union, dated back to 2016.

In Dec, 2020, EU leaders initiated punitive measures against Turkey, due to its dispute with Greece and Cyprus, over rights to offshore resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Brussels decided to postpone the measures until Mar, 2021.

“We wanted to make this visit because of many positive signals recently,” Maas said, on his part.

Germany wants EU-Turkey relations “to improve and to deepen,” the minister said, welcoming a decision to resume talks between Ankara and Athens, in a bid to ease tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.– NNN-ANADOLU

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