The European Parliament’s report, which points out that the accession process cannot continue under the current conditions, calling on Turkey to change its stance.

The report calls on Turkey to stop unilateral actions in Cyprus, to protect Hagia Sophia, as well as the minorities.

As the SKAI correspondent reported from Istanbul, Manolis Kostidisthe Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: “This report, full of unfair accusations and prejudices based on misinformation from anti-Turkey circles, reflects the usual shallow and visionless approach of the EP both to relations with our country and and for the future of the EU. This report, unfortunately, also shows that members of the European Parliament are captive to everyday populist politics and how far they are from developing the right strategic approach both to the EU and to our region.”

Relaxation exercise

Meanwhile, Turkey has started the amphibious exercise with the Turkish Cypriot military forces “Mediterranean Storm 2023”, while there are reports of a new start of road construction in Pyla.

“Turkey will get the F-16s only when Greece gets the F-35s and the Turkish parliament approves the Swedish issue,” say analysts in Turkey.

CNN Turk reported that “Menendez is the big obstacle. He will say ‘yes’ only if F-35s are given to Greece.”

CNN Turk correspondent Yunus Paksoy reported: “There is a serious problem in Congress. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, who is a man who works against Turkey. It works hand in hand with the Greek and Armenian lobbies. In other words, the main problem arises in Congress. The White House expects to give the F-35s to Greece after the issue of F-16s to Turkey is approved. Of course, there is an imbalance here as one country will get F-35 while the other F-16. But the Biden administration has internally created such a balance. When the F-16s are given to Turkey, then the F-35s will also be given to Greece. Then it is expected that this solution will not be blocked by Bob Menendez. If, of course, the Turkish Parliament also approves Sweden’s accession to NATO”.

State Department: “There should be no connection between Turkish F-16s and Sweden’s accession, but in Congress there are other views”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that it does not decide alone, but needs the approval of Congress.

HABER GLOBAL TV reported: “The US State Department responded to Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s criticisms on the F-16 issue. In the response, it is emphasized that the US State Department believes that there should not be an issue of linking Sweden’s integration with the F-16, but there are those in Congress who connect these issues.

The representative of the US State Department stated that ‘as we have stated this specific issue will have to be approved by Congress. There are those who connect the two issues and we are not the only factor that decides”.