The Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned the Italian ambassador to Turkey, Massimo Gaiani, after the statements of the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This was announced on Twitter by the Turkish press agency Anadolu.
During a press conference Draghi, stating that he did not share “absolutely Erdogan’s behavior towards President Von der Leyen”, defined the Turkish president as “a dictator” that is needed.
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, “strongly condemned the statements of the Italian Prime Minister appointed Mario Draghi against our elected president. We reject these ugly and uncontrolled statements to the sender ».
What Draghi said
At the origin of the diplomatic clash between Italy and Turkey, the words of Draghi in the press conference: «I absolutely disagree with Erdogan, I believe that it was not an appropriate behavior. I was very sorry for the humiliation that the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen had to suffer “, said the Prime Minister, and then added:” With these dictators, let’s call them for what they are “, underlined Draghi,” what is needed, however, one must be frank in expressing one’s diversity of views and visions of society; and he must also be ready to cooperate to secure the interests of his country. We need to find the right balance ». Claims that sent the Turks into a rage.
In the morning, after the barrage of accusations, Turkey had come out into the open and had returned to the sender the criticisms of Erdogan’s ‘protocol machismo’, which in the eyes of Europe would have been pleased to leave von der Leyen on the sidelines, reserving to Charles Michel the armchair at his side. “Unjust accusations. During the meeting the protocol was respected ». The staff of Turkey and the EU “met before the visit and their requests were met,” was the version of the foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
But the rebound of responsibility continues. The ceremonial staff, Brussels insisted, was denied a final inspection. As if that were not enough, it emerged today that another sensational accident was risked at the official lunch of the visit: the table was set for 5 people on each side, with two armchairs of honor in front, one for Michel and the other for Erdogan, while a smaller chair had been reserved for Von der Leyen, to Michel’s right. A rudeness avoided only in extremis.
Two diplomatic advisers accompanied Michel to the table, while von der Leyen was left alone. A mess here too buffered at the last, adding a chair for a member of his staff. And even the institutional photo initially excluded the president of the Commission, recalled at the end, according to an internal document of the Council, at the “suggestion” of Michel.