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European Union stiffens tone against Turkey, but calls for dialogue

European diplomats consider the decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Hagia Sophia to be a provocation aimed at escalating tensions between Ankara and Brussels.
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Escalating ties with Turkey was the No. 1 issue at the July monthly meeting of European Union foreign ministers. Meeting in Brussels face-to-face for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, the ministers tried to balance harsh criticism against Ankara with keeping the door for dialogue open.

"Turkey is an important country for the EU with whom we would wish to see our relations strengthened and developing. This should be done in respect of EU values, principles and interests. At the same time, there are worrying developments, in particular in the eastern Mediterranean and regarding Libya, that affect the EU’s interests," said the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell on July 13.

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