“Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque undoubtedly creates distrust, sows new divisions among religious communities and undermines the EU’s efforts for dialogue and co-operation,” an EU spokesperson told the ANA-MPA.
In the meantime, the spokesperson reminded that “there was a broad consensus among the ministers” on the 13th of July at the EU Council of Foreign Ministers “to ask the Turkish authorities to reconsider their decision.”
In addition, the spokesperson said that according to the conclusions of the last Foreign Affairs Council, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is called upon to “explore new paths that would lead to the de-escalation of the tensions,” while “new measures must be taken.” Finally, “the process is ongoing,” the spokesperson added.