Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkey’s ties to Russia are not an alternative to relations with the U.S. and the EU, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius, Çavuşoğlu addressed Turkey’s deteriorating relations with the U.S., noting that numerous congressmen and senators are “working hard” to repair the damage done to ties between the two NATO allies.
“The U.S. should drop its threatening language. If it adopts an attitude of ‘I’ll do as I please’ like in cowboy movies, it will face a counter-reaction.”
Addressing the issue of blocking the delivery of F-35 jets to Turkey, Çavuşoğlu reiterated that Turkey is a partner in the project and that it is backed by international law.
The European Union wants to see a stable economic development in Turkey, Germany’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.Speaking to German business representatives and ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry, Heiko Maas criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions and his economic pressure policy towards Turkey.“Of course we Europeans have a great interest in a stable economic development in Turkey,” he stressed.Maas said he will visit Turkey next week to meet Turkish government officials and discuss recent economic developments.The German foreign minister is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to Turkey on Sept. 5-6, ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s key visit to Berlin on Sept. 28-29.Over the past two years political relations between Ankara and Berlin have suffered setbacks, but in recent months both sides have taken steps towards improving ties.Germany is Turkey’s main economic and trade partner. More than 7,500 German companies are active in Turkey. In 2017, the bilateral trade volume reached €37.6 billion ($43.6 billion).Germany condemns far-right demo in eastern city after fatal disputeGermany slams US President Trump’s sanctions policyCanada appeals for German backing amid Saudi rights rowRacism in Germany ‘must be taken seriously,’ says Merkel after Özil debateGermany says Turkey’s stability important for EuropeGerman CEO sees rebound in Turkish tourism sector
EU for stable economic development in Turkey: Germany
Turkey has engaged in preparations to protect its sovereignty as various countries boost military deployments in the Mediterranean using the Syrian war as an excuse, as the Greek administration of the Republic of Cyprus splits energy reserves. In this context, the Turkish Naval Forces Command submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that Turkey should establish a naval base in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.To protect sovereign rightsThe base will enable the protection of Northern Cyprus’ sovereignty as well as facilitate and fortify Turkey’s rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, preventing the occupation of sea energy fields, and strengthening Turkey’s hand in the Cyprus peace process talks.It is recommended that the proposed naval base be established as an independent facility, similar to the British base in the region.Mediterranean teeming with Western powersWestern powers – mainly the U.S. and Britain – working to extend the Syrian war have boosted their military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Warships from Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Greece and Denmark have also anchored in the area.Northern Cypriot people stand with Turkey: MinisterArena for energy strugglesThe Greek administration of the Republic of Cyprus is working to establish control over the Eastern Mediterranean energy fields.It is cutting deals with all countries except Turkey, namely Israel, in order to limit Ankara’s naval authority.Turkey’s precautionary plan is readyActors have already started to take sides in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is of critical importance because of its energy reserves worth billions of dollars. The area is also significant because it is a key route in world trade and energy traffic.Turkey has continued to voice a strong stance against violations in the Eastern Mediterranean on various platforms, and has prepared a precautionary plan.East Med natural gas reserves could meet Turkey’s energy needs for 572 yearsAll eyes on CyprusThe island of Cyprus is at the center of the oil and trade routes as it stands out with its presence on the energy basin in the Eastern Mediterranean. The island controls the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean.Cyprus is located on the maritime trade route between the East and West, and controls the transportation routes of Middle Eastern and Central Asian oil, which constitutes more than half of the world’s petroleum.As a result, Turkey has prepared precautionary measures to implement in the face of any issues that may arise regarding this strategic location in the following years.Turkey to ensure safety of Northern CyprusA Turkish naval base in the area will ensure the safety of the people of Northern Cyprus, and show once more that Ankara stands by the island. The naval base will allow Turkey to protect its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.The base will contribute greatly to military precautions taken against the maritime jurisdiction declared by the Greek administration of the Republic of Cyprus, the deals it is dishing out, and the hydrocarbon exploration grants it is allowing by ignoring Turkey and Northern Cyprus.Air base in Northern CyprusTurkey already has the Geçitkale air base in Northern Cyprus. The base was previously home to F-16 fighter jets, but has been closed for an extended period of time. The base could be restored and reopened, however for this to occur, the high voltage line and electricity cables must be moved underground.Although this matter was once on the agenda, no steps have yet been taken. If the high voltage line is moved underground, it will no longer pose a danger to aircraft landing at the base, thus Geçitkale would become a highly likely candidate for Turkey’s air base in Northern Cyprus.Turkish base to reduce reaction timeA Turkish base in the region would reduce the reaction time for military and humanitarian action. A naval base established by Turkey would also enable the region to become more peaceful, as it would quell efforts by other actors to stir up unrest.
Why Turkey should establish a naval base in Northern Cyprus
National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke over the phone late Monday, a Defense Ministry source told Anadolu Agency.Akar and Mattis exchanged views on the Turkey-U.S. defense relations, Syria and the fight against terrorism, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests - which erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings - with unexpected ferocity. Germany slams US President Trump’s sanctions policyMacron says Brexit cannot divide EU, criticises Trump's isolationism
Turkish, American defense chiefs talk over phone
“Can the U.S. who is saying, ‘Don’t purchase the S-400 defense system,’ guarantee that we’d be supplied with Patriot?” asked Çavuşoğlu.
Russia will begin delivering its advanced S-400 missile defense system to Turkey in 2019, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson. The sanctions were followed by U.S President Donald Trump increasing tariffs on Turkish imports, which Turkey responded to by imposing customs duties on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.
Earlier, Çavuşoğlu arrived in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius for an official visit and met Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite.
“At our meeting with President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, we conveyed [to her] President Erdoğan’s best wishes and congratulations on the occasion of the Centennial of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania,” Cavusoglu said on Twitter.
Also on Twitter, he announced the signing of "Turkey-Lithuania Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments."
“We appreciate Lithuania’s support for Turkey’s EU accession process," Cavusoglu added.
Iran sanctions
"Turkey is not one of the states of United States, Turkey is an independent state. We don’t have to agree on every decision or actions of one country against another country, particularly when it is not fair, and not just," he said, referring to U.S. sanctions on Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 pact between Iran and major world powers under which sanctions were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear program. The Trump administration then announced unilateral plans to restore sanctions against Tehran.