Erdogan is trying to build good relations with the EU after a tense year

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decided to change positions towards Europe after a tense year has said after meetings he had had with journalists aboard a plane that was travelling from Chad to Tunisia on Thursday, reports “Sputnik International” Transmission Periscope.

I've always said this: We are obliged to reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends. We don't have a problem with the Germans, the Netherlands, or the religion. Rather, those flirting with these governments are my old friends” have declared Erdogan.

We had problems, but our last meetings have gone very well, I asked for their support in Jerusalem, we are all on the same page, I have called [German President Frank Walter] Steinmeier to thank him, while Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte sent signals to improve ties with us. Of course, we hope to have good ties with EU countries,” stressed Erdogan.

Erdogan's statements seem particularly controversial in light of October remarks, claiming Turkey no longer needed EU membership./Periscopi/