Berlin: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized on Sunday that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has explicitly communicated Ankara's aspiration to join the European Union. He stated that the subsequent action should originate from Brussels, asserting that a 'political will in Europe' favoring Trkiye's membership could resolve the outstanding issues.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan, during his visit to Berlin, engaged in a conversation with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. He conveyed that both Russia and Ukraine are now more inclined towards peace compared to the conflict's early stages. He mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to accepting a ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement under specific conditions, which has been communicated to Kyiv. Fidan added that Ankara is involved in some aspects of these peace efforts.
Fidan also discussed the security guarantees for Ukraine, highlighting the distinction between NATO troops and non-NATO international observer missions. He pointed out that the critical element in these discussions is the potential US security guarantee akin to NATO's Article 5, while European nations believe Ukraine should make independent decisions on such matters. He noted that Russia considers the upper limit as part of its own security assurance.
Fidan underscored that any eventual peace agreement should ensure long-term stability not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe. He stressed that proposed clauses should be scrutinized carefully and should include 'explicit commitments' preventing either side from attacking the other 'for any reason,' which he argued could secure peace for decades.
Addressing hybrid threats attributed to Russia, including cyberattacks and incidents involving critical infrastructure, Fidan remarked that Trkiye has directly confronted Russia in various conflict zones while maintaining dialogue. He stated that Trkiye reacts when its interests are compromised but cannot sustain permanent confrontation with its neighbors.
On Europe's security architecture, Fidan identified three crucial areas: the NATO-based structure, the need to bolster Europe's defense industry, which the Ukraine war exposed as inadequate, and ongoing discussions about the future of US engagement in Europe. He suggested that countries like the UK, France, Germany, Trkiye, and Italy should play a guiding role in this debate.
Regarding Trkiye's EU accession process, Fidan expressed that Ankara remains committed to full membership and anticipates objective progress through the opening of negotiation chapters. He indicated that past obstacles were due to the political stances of certain EU member states rather than technical criteria.
Fidan also touched upon developments in Syria, stating that the country is gradually recovering from the economic crisis and war damage. He noted that approximately 500,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned from Trkiye to their homeland. He cautioned that regional efforts to stabilize Syria face risks arising from Israel's current actions.