policies towards Gaza “shaken faith” in the EU – Telquel.ma

LThe policy pursued by certain European institutions and countries during the war in Gaza”shook faith in European values“, writes the head of state in a message addressed to the EU on the occasion of Europe Day.

Since the beginning of the war in the Palestinian territory, in which according to Hamas, 34,904 people have died, and which Israel is leading in retaliation for the massacres of October 7 (1,170 dead and another 129 people are hostages), Erdogan has sided with the Palestinians, a movement he is close to. and tirelessly condemns the attitude of Westerners.

“As long as the crises, conflicts and wars affecting Europe and our shared geography remain unresolved, the questioning of these values ​​will increase.“, he warns.

“Many challenges such as wars, conflicts, acts of terrorism, irregular migration and climate change (…) threaten order on the European continent.“, continues the head of state.

He condemns “the rise of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism across the continent (which is) one of the biggest sources of concern for our citizens and immigrants living in Europe“, he says and insists on “discrimination and hate crimes against the European Turkish community (became common).“.

President Erdoğan, whose country has been knocking on the door of the EU for thirty years, assesses that he “it’s time to” of “develop cooperation in all areas, including accession negotiations”.

Turkey was recognized as a candidate in 1999, but membership negotiations have been frozen since 2018.

The Turkish head of state ends with a warning: “Faced with a policy of exclusion towards our country (…), Turkey will not refrain from using and developing its strategic capabilities and capabilities..”

NATO member and its main ally on its eastern flank, Turkey – which is developing its own defense industry – has acquired S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.

Delivered in 2019, they were never put into service, but the purchase sparked a crisis between Washington and Ankara, blocking the purchase of US F-35 jets.