Ankara welcomed Hamas’s announcement that it accepts the cease-fire agreement in Gaza, expecting the same step from Israel. This was stated by President Erdoğan after a cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon. He had previously spoken by phone with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In his speech, he urged “Western actors” to put pressure on Israel, saying that there is no obstacle that does not allow dialogue and negotiation. He reiterated his country’s determination to eliminate PKK terrorism in northern Iraq, but also spoke of broken promises by allies, implying that the US and Russia would remove Syrian PKK forces from the Turkish-Syrian border. “When the time comes, we will finish our unfinished business,” he promised.

About Europe, Germany and Greece

Looking to Europe, the Turkish president made special mention of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s recent visit to Turkey and said it was significant as it was the 100th anniversary of the Turkey-Germany Friendship Treaty. He also emphasized that “Turkey is willing to develop its relations with the European Union and its member countries as long as the principle of equality and adherence to agreements is respected. But for that to happen, he said, the European Union must first get rid of its strategic blindness and stop excluding Turkey. The sooner European leaders see and accept this fact, the better it will be for them,” he stressed.

The Turkish president made a short but special reference to the official visit of the Greek prime minister to Turkey next Monday. “Like the double-headed eagle of the Seljuks, we will seek ways to develop our relations with the East and the West based on our common interests,” he said. It is not the first time that the Turkish president resorts to this reference, implying that Turkey adjusts its policy according to its interests.