Turkey’s President has warned his French counterpart that his country is ‘seriously tired’ of waiting to see if the European Union wants it to become a member.
On a visit to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron today, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey ‘won’t wait forever’ when it comes to the EU.
Macron admitted Turkey’s EU accession talks have been slow and said their relationship needs to be rebuilt to create a partnership that ensures Turkey’s future ‘will be built looking toward Europe and with Europe’.
On a visit to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron (left) today, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) said Turkey ‘won’t wait forever’ when it comes to the EU
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace, President Erdogan said: ‘Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it’s now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU.
‘We have been seriously tired, my nation, too.’
Commenting on the possibility of Turkey turning its back on Europe he added: ‘One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included.’
The two leaders and their wives, Brigitte Macron and Emine Erdoğan, were pictured shaking hands on the steps of the Elysee.
The two leaders and their wives, Brigitte Marcon (right) and Emine Erdoğan (left), were pictured shaking hands on the steps of the Elysee today
Ties between Turkey and the European Bloc deteriorated last year after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates’ votes in a referendum to expand the president’s powers.
Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.
During the visit, which was organised to improve relations between France and Turkey, the two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, fight against terror, and the war in Syria.
Afterwards Macron tweeted to say France and Turkey have the shared goal of ‘peace and stability in Syria’.
The two nations signed defence, banking and commercial deals, including the sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.
The trip was Erdogan’s first to France since his government launched a fierce crackdown on suspected opponents after the failed coup of July 2016.
Around 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs.
Protests over deteriorating press freedom and human rights in Turkey greeted Erdogan on his arrival. Around 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters Without Borders waved pictures of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy.
A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the Elysee Palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace, President Erdogan said: ‘Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it’s now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU. ‘We have been seriously tired, my nation, too.’
The two leaders are pictured at a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in the French capital
The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticised Erdogan’s visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.
In a statement the Communist Party said: ‘The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services’ involvement in this crime.’
Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with his Turkish counterpart.
He said he gave Erdogan a list of journalists and non-governmental organization workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.
Macron added: ‘We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding.’
Erdogan retorted by saying some ‘columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism.’
While Erdogan travelled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.
During the visit, which was organised to improve relations between France and Turkey, the two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, fight against terror, and the war in Syria
Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with his Turkish counterpart. Pictured: Mrs Erdogan and Mrs Macron greet one another in Paris