Ahead of a meeting of European Union heads of states, aimed at discussing Turkey’s actions in a stand-off over eastern Mediterranean gas and oil reserves with EU member states Greece and Cyprus; French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the meeting would also discuss Ankara’s operation in Afrin. The French leader stressed that while European states must take into consideration the security criteria of Turkey, an invasion of a sovereign country, even if it is at war, can never be accepted. “Tonight we will have this discussion about Turkey and about Afrin. I expressed myself very clearly about it. After this European Council, I will have (Turkish) president (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan on the phone. I have always been clear on the subject of the (Syrian) canton of Afrin. I consider that we have to take into consideration the security criteria of Turkey — this is obvious — but we will never be behind an intrusion in a sovereign country like Syria even if it is at war, and we will not back what is today an infraction to a resolution of the United Nations that we have contributed to enact and that the Russians have also accepted. So it is important in the framework of our dialogue with Turkey, to build a return to normalcy and France will do all it can so this is the case. Believe me,” French Foreign Minister Emmanuel Macron said.
On the matter of the offshore gas and oil dispute, the Greek and Cypriot governments have both accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of violating international law in a long-standing row over offshore explorations. Speaking as he arrived at the summit, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that the Council should retain a ‘skeptical’ viewpoint but added that he hoped to keep the doors to dialogue open. “We have to be very sceptical about the developments in the (Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea) region (after Turkey conducted offshore oil and gas exploration off the coast of Cyprus). But I think we have to be very straight to the Turkish side for their obligations, especially their obligation to respect international law, but at the same time to keep open the doors of dialogue,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for TV7’s request for a response.