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EU calls on Turkey to normalize ties with all EU states

EU summit in Brussels
EU summit in Brussels
BRUSSELS, March 23 (KUNA) -- European Union leaders "strongly condemned" what they said was "Turkey's continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea" and underlined their "full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece." In a statement released late Thursday after the first day of a two-day summit, leaders of the 28-member bloc "urgently" called on "Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with EU and International Law." The statement recalled "Turkey's obligation to respect International Law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU Member States including the Republic of Cyprus." It expressed "grave concern over the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey, including two Greek soldiers," and called for the swift and positive resolution of these issues in a dialogue with Member States.
Moreover, the EU summit condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the recent attack in Salisbury, and expressed its "deepest sympathies to all whose lives have been threatened and lends its support to the ongoing investigation.
It agreed with the United Kingdom government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation. "We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security," noted the statement.
EU Member States will coordinate on the consequences to be drawn in the light of the answers provided by the Russian authorities, it added.
The 27 EU leaders (without the UK) will discuss the issue of Brexit Friday. (end) nk.hb