Turkish President Recep Erdogan refused to take seriously statements by European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrel on Ankara’s position on anti-Russian sanctions. Borrell, according to the Turkish leader, “cannot define and regulate” bilateral relations between Russia and Turkey.
“I do not see Borrel as an interlocutor. He can only be an interlocutor for Mevlut Bey [Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu]. This is an ugly statement. Firstly, Borrel cannot define and regulate our relations with Russia. He has neither the qualifications nor the ability to make decisions on these issues,” the Turkish president told reporters.
Erdogan also noted that Borrel had behaved “ungratefully” given Ankara’s help in implementing the “grain deal”.
“How can you assess our relations with Russia under sanctions? I mean, where does 44% of the grain that Europe receives come from? Through the Black Sea. Who is the intermediary in this deal? Turkey. Has it said thank you for that? No. All European leaders thank us, and you stand up and make such a statement,” he stressed.
Last week Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, said he was concerned about the close cooperation between the leaders of Russia and Turkey. He is convinced that in this way Moscow is trying to avoid sanctions imposed on it by the West.
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