Turkey sees itself as part of Europe, says Erdogan
TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey sees itself as a part of Europe.
It comes as he called on the European Union to “keep its promises” on issues such as the country’s membership bid and refugees.
He spoke yesterday ahead of an EU summit due to be held next month.
In recent weeks, EU members have raised the prospect of sanctions against Turkey over its gas exploration missions in the eastern Mediterranean.
“We always see ourselves as part of Europe,” Mr Erdogan said in a virtual speech to ruling party members.
“We choose to favour Europe as long as they don’t force us to look elsewhere.
“Keep your promises to our country, from full membership to the issue of refugees.”
Turkey applied for membership in the bloc in 1987 and four years ago signed a deal with the EU to manage the flow of migrants to Europe.
Claims of democratic backsliding have resulted in its application being effectively suspended, while both sides have accused the other of not properly implementing the refugee agreement.
Over the summer Ankara dispatched research and drill ships to waters claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus, sparking a military escalation.
Turkey withdrew the Oruc Reis research vessel from the eastern Mediterranean before an EU summit in September. The ship later returned and on Saturday Turkey announced it was extendingitsmissionuntilNovember29.
European heads are due to meet in Brussels on December 10 and 11 and have voiced concerns over Turkish activity in parts of the Mediterranean that Ankara unilaterally claims as its economic zone.
Over the last two weeks, Mr Erdogan has talked about plans for judicial and democratic reforms to accompany a change in economic policy, a sign that some have suggested is a bid to win over Europe and the incoming administration of president- elect Joe Biden in the US.