Erdogan tells Merkel EU summit resolution was not enough
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that last week's European Union summit decisions were not sufficient to overcome problems in relations between Ankara and the bloc, his office said on Tuesday.
EU leaders on Friday overcame concerns by Cyprus, which pushed for sanctions on Ankara, by assuring it that the bloc would punish Turkey if it continues oil and gas drilling in disputed areas of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tensions have risen between Turkey on one hand and Greece and Cyprus on the other over energy exploration and maritime jurisdiction at sea.
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan spoke to Merkel by video conference and told her the summit decisions were "detached from elements that could overcome problems in ties and ready the groundwork for dialogue and cooperation" between Ankara and the bloc.
Erdogan "stated that the EU had succumbed to pressure and blackmail from Greek Cypriots and Greece despite Turkey's good faith," the presidency said in a statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece welcomes moves by Turkey to de-escalate tensions in the Mediterranean, but Ankara needs to show a firmer commitment to improving relations.
Ankara on Monday pulled one of its drill ships operating southwest of Cyprus back to the coast in a move the EU said would help ease tensions in the region.
Merkel had mediated between Ankara and Athens amid the tensions. [Reuters]
