During the debate on Turkey, Minister Linkevičius noted that Turkey was an important EU partner and NATO ally; that is why talking with it is a better option than widening a gap between the EU and Turkey.
“The situation continues to be tense in Turkey, society is divided, and there are a lot of internal and external tensions. Both parties must take measures to correct the situation,” Linas Linkevičius remarked.
The head of the Lithuanian foreign office expressed his hope that Turkey’s strategic orientation towards the EU will continue to be a priority while he invited his colleagues to remain united and talk to Turkey.
“Only direct ties, a direct dialogue can and must bring positions closer together. We should not forget that relations between the EU and Turkey as well as Turkey’s role in NATO are underpinned by many interests and a geopolitical factor which matters a lot, too. It is in our interest to maintain long-term strategic partnership with our geopolitically significant partner; therefore at this stage it is important to assess the expectations of both parties and to relieve tension,” Minister Linkevičius said.
