Lithuania: Europe can’t turn its back on Turkey

By iNFOTEL
August 28 2018 04:40 AM

CP1758739799 — Turkey\'s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert in eastern Mus province, eastern Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Turkish Seljuks beat the Byzantine forces at the Battle of Manzikert (now Malazgirt, Turkey) in 1071, gaining entry into Anatolia and opening the road to Europe. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

COPENHAGEN – Lithuania’s president says that the European Union can’t turn its back on Turkey, adding that “it’s necessary to search for solutions to assist Turkey” to help curb terror threats and migration to Europe.

Dalia Grybauskaite said after meeting Turkey’s visiting foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, that “Turkey needs Europe and Europe needs Turkey in trade, security, migration and other areas.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said Tuesday that “Turkey will always be a sincere partner of dialogue for Lithuania,” adding “it’s abnormal not to speak directly, even when there are problematic issues.”

Ties between the EU and would-be member Turkey are tense, in part because of concerns over the rule of law in the country. EU members also want Turkey to tackle the flow of migrants to Europe.

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