UPDATE - Türkiye-EU relations should not be held hostage to interests of some countries: Turkish foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – Relations between Türkiye and the EU should not be held hostage to the interests of some countries, the Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday.

“The EU cannot truly be a global actor without Türkiye,” said Hakan Fidan, speaking at a joint press conference in the Turkish capital Ankara with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.

Türkiye expects the EU to show the necessary will and act more courageously to advance relations, said Fidan.

“There is no change in Türkiye's EU membership perspective. It has a very strong political will,” he added.

Referring to recent announcements on the bloc’s enlargement through 2030, Fidan said that at a time when the EU is highlighting its enlargement policy over geopolitical concerns, it would be a great strategic mistake to exclude Türkiye from this.

Praising the solidarity shown by the EU after the devastating Feb. 6 earthquakes in Türkiye, Fidan said: "I hope this spirit of solidarity will be reflected in all dimensions of Turkish-EU relations in the coming period."

Fidan also said reactivation of the Türkiye-EU Established Dialogue Mechanisms is essential for establishing trust in relations.

He then turned to updating the 1995 Customs Union – a longstanding Turkish concern – and the problems many Turkish citizens have getting visas to EU countries.

“We give priority to updating the Customs Union. It will be in the interests of both parties to renew the Customs Union in accordance with the needs of today and the needs of tomorrow,” said Fidan.

“Progress in the visa liberalization process is also among our expectations from the EU. Visa liberalization will increase human-to-human dialogue and will undoubtedly contribute to removing the problems and prejudices regarding Türkiye's membership in the EU,” he added.

Fidan said that he reiterated the need to increase cooperation on the basis of fair burden-sharing in the fight against irregular migration and that in order to solve the problem of irregular migration, first of all, stability must be ensured in the source countries.

Fidan also said that they exchanged views with Varhelyi on EU funds and EU investments adding: “We think that these are concrete and good steps as a starting point for revitalizing our relations with the EU and EU institutions.”

“We agreed to continue this positive agenda. We will continue the positive agenda. We will also work towards reaching bigger goals.”

Varhelyi is on a two-day visit to Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.

Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1987, and its accession talks began in 2005.

In the years since, talks have been essentially frozen due to political roadblocks by certain EU members, for reasons unrelated to its suitability for membership, according to Ankara.

- Situation in Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Asked about recent clashes between Arab tribes and the terrorist group PKK/YPG in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, Fidan called on the US “to stop suppressing Arab communities in Syria at the hands of the YPG/PKK terror group.”

“The painting of the YPG terror group as legitimate must end, or the conflicts we see are just the beginning,” he added, referring to the US refusing to recognize the YPG/PKK as a terrorist group and in fact cooperating with it.

Fidan said that one of the pillars of Türkiye’s Syria policy is for people to live in the places they have been living for years.

“In other words, it is important that Arabs, Turkmens, and Kurds live where they are. However, as a result of the US-backed YPG invading Arab lands, especially subjugating them, we predicted that such issues would arise a long time ago,” he said.

“Unfortunately, these bring about long-term results that will turn into a blood feud between the two communities. YPG terrorism and PKK terrorism will one day disappear, but the treatment and rehabilitation of the seeds of sedition that both the US and YPG have planted together between Kurds and Arabs will take many years.”

Operations launched by Arab tribes last week against the terror group in the eastern Syria province of Deir ez-Zor expanded with the participation of other tribes.

Since Aug. 27, a total of 33 villages have been liberated from YPG/PKK occupation in the rural areas of the Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakah provinces and the Manbij district of Aleppo.