Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Tuesday (September 22) for a "
sincere dialogue
" to resolve the conflict between his country and Greece and the European Union in the Mediterranean, while rejecting any "
harassment
" against Turkey.
Read also: Eastern Mediterranean: Macron and Erdogan will talk to each other tonight
"
Our priority is to resolve conflicts through sincere dialogue, based on international law and an equitable basis,
" said the Turkish head of state in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly by videoconference.
“
However, I want to make it clear that we are never going to tolerate any diktat, harassment or attack,
” he added.
Mr Erdogan's statements come as Athens and Ankara clash over areas in the eastern Mediterranean potentially rich in natural gas.
The tension had worsened in late August, when the two countries carried out rival military maneuvers.
But the recent return to port of a Turkish research vessel deployed in the eastern Mediterranean has raised hopes of appeasement.
The two countries thus gave their agreement on Tuesday to start exploratory talks about their differences, according to the Turkish presidency.
To read also: Greek ships and soldiers on the Kastellórizo front: "Erdogan does not scare us"
French President Emmanuel Macron, Greece's main supporter in the crisis, and Mr. Erdogan are to speak by phone Tuesday evening to discuss the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, according to the Elysee Palace.
President Erdogan also proposed the organization of a regional conference to discuss “
the rights and interests
” of the countries bordering the Eastern Mediterranean, also including the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
For the Turkish head of state, “
the unilateral initiatives taken by Greece and the Greek Cypriots
” are at the origin of the crisis in the Mediterranean.
Cyprus has been divided in two since the invasion of the northern third of the Mediterranean island by the Turkish army in 1974 after a coup attempt to reattach the country to Greece.
During his speech, Mr. Erdogan also criticized, without naming them, the countries which announced “
their intention to open embassies in Jerusalem, in violation of the resolutions of the United Nations and of international law
”.
For the Turkish president, only the creation of an “
independent and sovereign Palestinian state
” with East Jerusalem as its capital could resolve the conflict.
“
Seeking solutions other than this will be futile, one-sided and unfair,
” he said.
