Brussels-Sana
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen considered that the distance between the European Union and the Turkish system is still widening despite the geographical proximity between them.
In an annual speech on the state of the union delivered by von der Leyen in front of the European Parliament today, it was reported by the Italian agency AKI, clarifying that the geographical proximity between the Union and Turkey does not in any way justify the “humiliation” of Ankara, the neighboring countries, and said: “We stress full solidarity with Athens and Cyprus to protect common interests.”
Der Line reiterated Brussels's clear position on the need to stop the escalation in order to reach good neighborly relations with Turkey, noting that Ankara's withdrawal of the drilling ship is a step in the right direction.
For his part, European Council President Charles Michel in Nicosia expressed the European Union’s commitment to defending the rights of Cyprus in its dispute with the Turkish regime over the rights to explore for gas in the Mediterranean.
"The European Union is in solidarity with Cyprus, which is facing a dangerous situation," Michel told reporters after his meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, indicating that the Turkish regime "continues to violate the Cypriot maritime areas by conducting illegal drilling."