(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Ankara expects Germany to return to its neutral stance on
Türkiye-Greece relations, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the phone, reports citing
.
Erdogan and Scholz discussed the bilateral relations and
regional relations in a phone call, Türkiye's Communications
Directorate said in a statement.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a number of issues,
including competing claims over jurisdiction in the Eastern
Mediterranean, overlapping claims over their continental shelves,
maritime boundaries, airspace, energy, the ethnically split island
of Cyprus, the status of the islands in the Aegean Sea and
migrants.
Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of
repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region
in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that
are demilitarized under treaties, saying that such moves frustrate
its good faith efforts for peace.
Türkiye and Greece will resolve all issues related to the
Eastern Mediterranean through dialogue, German Chancellor Scholz
said in Athens on Thursday.
'Good neighborly relations, with Türkiye, for example, are of
significance not just for both countries, but for all of Europe and
trans-Atlantic relations,' he said during a joint news conference
with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Erdogan said that he attaches 'special importance' to close
dialogue developed with Scholz to strengthen bilateral relations in
every field.
According to a recent study, more than half of the participants
listed Germany as the most important partner of Türkiye among
European Union countries. Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom
ranked as the three most trusted European countries.
Türkiye-EU dialogue, negotiations to update the customs union
and talks on Türkiye's EU accession should be revived, Erdogan
stressed.
Türkiye-EU relations are marked by disputes on several issues,
including tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye's role in
Syria, the migrant crisis and the stalemate in Türkiye's accession
process to join the bloc. However, Türkiye has recently reiterated
that it is part of Europe and sees its future in the EU, adding
that it will continue to work toward full membership. Ankara is
calling to reenergize the accession process and update the
Türkiye-EU Customs Union as it advocates for regular high-level
dialogues, visa liberalization and further counterterrorism
efforts.
Türkiye has the longest history with the union and the longest
negotiation process. The country signed an association agreement
with the EU's predecessor in 1964, the European Economic Community
(EEC), which is usually regarded as a first step to eventually
becoming a candidate. Applying for official candidacy in 1987,
Türkiye had to wait until 1999 to be granted the status of a
candidate country. For the start of the negotiations, however,
Türkiye had to wait for another six years, until 2005, a uniquely
long process compared with other candidates. In recent years, the
accession process seems stalled.