Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Tuesday said the EU should come to understand how valuable Turkey would be as a full member of the bloc.
“We expect the EU to acknowledge its mistakes and understand the value that Turkey’s membership will add to the union. If that happens, we believe a more productive relationship can be established for both parties,” Çavuşoğlu said while addressing parliament’s Planning and Budget Committee in Ankara.
The minister pointed to member countries that “bring their bilateral problems with Turkey to the EU,” adding that those countries are using a “membership solidarity mask” against Turkey.
He said most countries see the significance of dialogue with Turkey for Europe’s stability.
Relations with US under Biden
Çavuşoğlu also said Turkey is attempting to act in coordination with its NATO ally the US despite some differences over issues such as Syria and Libya.
“We will make the necessary effort to put relations back on a positive track based on the strategic interest of both countries,” he said, attributing the difficulties of dialogue to overcome the problems to the political polarization in the US.
In this new era it will be important to turn a new page in economic, political and security cooperation, Çavuşoğlu said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has been widely recognized as the winner of November’s general election — including by Turkey — despite legal challenges by outgoing President Donald Trump.
