EU says Turkey must drop confrontational stance, slams Hagia Sophia ruling

The European Union condemned a decision by Turkey to convert the UNESCO world heritage site Hagia Sophia into a mosque and called on the country to ease mounting tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The EU agreed the common stance on Turkey following a “long and interesting debate between its foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said.

“Several serious issues must be addressed by Turkey in order to change the current confrontational dynamic and create an environment of trust with Turkey, which everybody wishes,” Borrell said.

Other developments of concern included Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Libya, he said.

Turkey is drilling for hydrocarbons off the island of Cyprus, which the EU has said is illegal. In Libya, Ankara is supplying militants, weapons and military know-how in support of the United Nations-recognised government in Tripoli. But EU member states say it is breaking an arms embargo on the country and should do more to bring opposing sides in the conflict to the peace table.

Relations between the EU and Turkey are under continuous strain, the ministers agreed, according to Borrell.

“We stress also that Turkey’s unilateral actions, in particular in the Eastern Mediterranean, which run counter to EU interests, to the sovereign rights of EU Member States and to international law, must come to an end,” he said.

While Turkey is seen as an important country for the European Union, which is seeking to strengthen bilateral relations, the process should be achieved “in respect of EU values, principles and interests,” Borrell said.

Turkey should “contribute actively to a political solution in Libya and to respect the commitments it has taken in the framework of the Berlin process, including the United Nations arms embargo,” he said.

Turkey says it is exercising its sovereign rights in the Mediterranean and actions there and in Libya are designed to protect its security and contribute to regional stability and equality.

On Hagia Sophia – the Istanbul monument has been turned into a mosque following a court decision last week – Borrell said Turkey should swiftly remedy the situation.

“This decision will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine our efforts at dialogue and cooperation” he said.

“There was broad support to call on the Turkish authorities to urgently reconsider and reverse this decision.”

Borrell said EU foreign minister supported the European Commission in exploring further paths to lowering tensions. The options included possible sanctions, which the bloc wanted to avoid, he said.

“I will prepare options on further appropriate measures that could be taken in response to the challenges we are facing as a result of Turkish actions, including in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said. “In the meantime, work will also continue on additional listings within the existing sanctions framework as requested by Cyprus.”

Borrell said technical work would continue on additional listings within the existing sanctions framework.

“We do not want to anticipate a situation in which we could have an increase of tensions,” he said. “For sure drillings in Greek waters disputed by Turkey would be something that could increase tensions.

Turkey has said it may extend drilling activities in the Mediterranean to include waters near the Greek island of Crete, citing a maritime agreement it made with Libya at the end of last year.

“We will prepare options and further appropriate measures that could be taken in response to the challenges that we are facing as a result of Turkey’s actions,” Borrell said.