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On Friday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of N. Dendias will meet in New York with the Secretary General. of the UN Antonio Guterres (photo by STAVROS IOANNIDIS).
Of substantial diplomatic value was the moment when Washington yesterday announced its decision to lift the embargo on the sale of US non-lethal weapons to the Republic of Cyprus. Yesterday, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, informed the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis, by telephone about the decision of the United States to lift the embargo imposed on Cyprus in 1987, by non-lethal equipment. The State Department’s timing, amid a crisis in the eastern Mediterranean and Turkey’s threats to establish itself in Famagusta, is seen as an indirect sign that Washington is moving to strengthen rather than undermine stability in the region. On the occasion of his conversation with Mr. Pompeo, Mr. Anastasiadis explained the subject of the Turkish expansion in Famagusta. The lifting of the embargo will be valid for one year and may be renewed annually.
At the same time, in Athens, it is estimated that after the ratification of the Greek-Egyptian SEZ agreement by both parties, the publication of the relevant maps at the UN is imminent. Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will be in New York on Friday, where he will meet with the Secretary General. Antonio Guterres, who will inform Greece about the agreements between Greece and Italy and Egypt, as well as the irregularities committed by Turkey under the Turkish-Libyan memorandum.
Yesterday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resumed the use of offensive tones for Greece, saying that “some are trying to implement their secret agenda, putting in front of Turkey a state that has kept its existence hidden behind others throughout its history” . . He added that “we are tired of this shadow theater. “It is ridiculous to present a country that cannot do any good on its own, as bait for Turkey, a regional and global power.” In an equally offensive tone, the representative of the ruling AKP party, Omer Celik, described Greece as a “pirate state”, while also speaking out against France. It should be noted that according to the information, the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” will not arrive in the area.
“Last chance”
From the EU side, Commission Vice President Margaritis Schoinas pointed out yesterday that Turkey has until September 25 to find a way to cooperate with the EU. “We are looking for a way to give Turkey one last chance. If at 25 we find ourselves in such a situation, it makes sense to impose sanctions. At the moment, the entire sanctions grid is on the table,” (Alpha) said Mr. Schoinas.
At the same time, yesterday, government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s announcements on September 12 and 13 in Thessaloniki on equipping and strengthening the country’s deterrent forces. “Let’s go to an update of our weapons systems and not only”, said about this (SKAI) Minister of State George Gerapetritis, who added that “there will be an update in the number and operational capacity of the Armed Forces personnel. It is a plan to be announced shortly for the update in both personnel and infrastructure.
Based on the army’s proposals, already in the current period we have a menu of options regarding the updating of the existing weapons systems, but also the purchase of new ones, within the budget space that we will have ”. Mr. Gerapetritis noted that the deal for the French Rafale fighter jets has not yet been completed.
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