‘EU must discard pressure from Greece, Greek Cypriots'

ANKARA

The EU must discard the pressure it is facing from Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, Turkey’s president said on Saturday.

It is extremely wrong for Turkey’s relations with the EU to be captive to the tricks of one or two states, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video link address at the opening ceremony of the Manisa-Akhisar Highway in western Turkey.

Although we always make intensive efforts to find a solution in good faith and dialogue in our relationship with the EU, we do not find their attitude correct, he said.

Nothing can be achieved by excluding, marginalizing, and punishing Turkey for the country's just cause, he added.

Referring to the declaration of the EU following its leaders' summit, Erdogan said that whatever decisions are taken, Turkey will continue to make contribution to the world peace and tranquility on a global scale.

New reforms to make Turkey center of attraction

Turkey is about to complete its preparations for reforms in the fields of law and the economy, Erdogan said, noting that the country will create an environment to improve investment opportunities, raise predictability, and eliminate hesitations of investors.

At a separate event, the president said reforms will again make the country a center of attraction.

“With legal and administrative reforms, we aim to ensure Turkey’s place in the top 10 of the restructured global, political, and economic order,” Erdogan said in a video address at the inauguration of a dam in the southeastern Gaziantep province.

On the coronavirus pandemic, he said Turkey has completed preparations to get vaccines from other countries until its local COVID-19 vaccine is ready for rollout.

He reiterated that Turkey did not compromise on its health services and investments during a period when the whole world was affected by the pandemic.

Speaking about a new dam, he said it will help make the region between Gaziantep and Kilis one of the most important agricultural production centers of Turkey.

Erdogan said a logistics village to be set up on an area of 500 hectares will give Gaziantep a dry port that will be connected to the seaports of southern Mersin and Iskenderun provinces.

He also stressed the significance of water saving, urging everyone to be cautious about the use of water during the pandemic, as water has been used intensely due to hygiene purposes.