In a statement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said confidence of Turkish people in the European Union had unfortunately fallen in the wake of the military coup attempt.
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In an outburst following NATO’s perceived lack of backing after the failed coup, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened Turkey would “think of exit” if North Atlantic Treaty Organisation did not step up to defend the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan Aug. 9, 2016.
Erdogan’s visit to Putin’s hometown of Saint Petersburg is also his first foreign trip since the failed coup against him last month that sparked a purge of opponents and …
Turkey and Russian Federation have similar views on the need for a ceasefire in Syria, the provision of humanitarian aid, and a political solution to end the crisis, according to Cavusoglu.
Turkey’s government has repeatedly said the coup attempt was organized by FETO and followers of Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999.
The visit was closely watched in the West, where some fear that both men, powerful leaders critics say are ill-disposed to dissent, might use their rapprochement to exert pressure on Washington and the European Union and stir tensions within North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the military alliance of which Turkey is a member. Gulen denies all charges.
Russian Federation supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey opposes the Syrian leader. -Turkish ties, with some Turkish officials implying Washington could have been behind the coup.
“On Syria, we think the same on the issue of a cease-fire, on humanitarian aid and a political solution”, the minister said. Ankara also lashed out at the EU for failing to uphold its end of an EU-Turkey agreement on migration. “If the West loses Turkey one day, it will not be because of Turkey’s relations with Russia, China, or the Islamic world, but rather because of themselves”.
“We’re not mending relations with Russian Federation to send a message to the West”, Minister Cavusoglu said.
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The EU has urged Ankara to act within the rule of law while condemning Erdogan for suggesting the country could bring back the death penalty, abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey’s reforms to join the union.
