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Erdogan tells EU to fix its foreign policy orientation

YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME
Takip Et

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week once again dismissed speculation that Turkey is reorienting its foreign policy away from the West and said the European Union, by casting doubt on its membership promises to Turkey, is the one that should answer questions about its policy orientation. In speeches at both Johns Hopkins University and the Washington branch of the Ankara-based Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) following his meeting with US President Barack Obama on Monday, Erdogan brushed aside arguments suggesting that Turkey's foreign policy orientation has been shifting away from the West. "Turkey cannot lose the West while looking towards the East; cannot lose the East while looking towards the West; cannot lose the South while looking towards the North; cannot lose the North while looking towards the South," Erdogan said, underlining EU candidate Turkey's democratic and secular structure. Claims over a shift in Turkey's foreign policy orientation are "deliberate" and "unfair," he said, adding that as a member of the Western alliance, Turkey's ability to speak with everyone should be seen as "an opportunity." Stating that regional issues around Turkey have global importance, Erdogan said for this reason, Turkey's efforts to resolve regional issues serve global peace. "There is nothing such as a shift of orientation, etc. It's a normalization process. If there is something such as a shift in orientation that has to do with Europe, it should urgently be dealt with," Erdogan said, apparently criticizing EU member states such as France and Germany who have proposed options to Turkey that fall short of full membership. Erdogan also reiterated his sensitivity over poor conditions in Gaza. "Israel has to end domestic opinion differences so that problems between Israel and Turkey can also be overcome," he said. He added that there are conflicting messages from the Israeli coalition partners on Turkey's possible mediation of talks between Israel and Syria.