The … French of Athens in Erdogan’s war chants

Athens launches a diplomatic counterattack ahead of the EU summit on September 24-25, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis meeting with French President Macron, as well as the condition set by Greece for Cyprus’ participation in Michel’s proposal for a multilateral conference. of the Mediterranean countries with the participation of NATO and Turkey.

The four with Macron and the defense agreement

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas officially announced that Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emmanuel Macron will have a private meeting on Thursday in Corsica as part of the summit of the 7 Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe, MED 7 (Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Porto) . Malta and Cyprus).

When asked if the Greek-French defense deal had been blocked, the government spokesman declined to comment further, saying that all developments in the eastern Mediterranean would be discussed between Mitsotakis and Macron, as well as issues of defending. cooperation.

“I’d like to stay in it, right now,” Mr. Petsas said, avoiding giving details.

However, earlier, in the context of a rhetoric about Turkey’s war threats, the government spokesman had stressed that “we are in contact with friendly countries to strengthen the equipment of our Armed Forces.”

He added that “on September 12, in Thessaloniki, the Prime Minister will specify the triptych in which we move: weapons programs, strengthening the human resources of the Armed Forces and reorganization of the defense industry, which can, after all , contribute to the development and stimulation of technological employment “.

Cyprus’s involvement is evident

At the same time, Charles Michel, during his earlier telephone conversation with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, spoke about the tense situation in the region due to Turkey’s provocative actions and the European response to them.

Michel reiterated the full solidarity of the EU in Greece and Cyprus.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas stressed that there had been some initial discussions on Michel’s proposal in relation to the multilateral Mediterranean conference and said that the Greek government was waiting for the framework of this conference to be taken.

However, he did not fail to underline that for Greece the participation of the Republic of Cyprus is clear and evident, with all that this implies for Turkey, since Ankara to date does not recognize the statehood of the Republic of Cyprus.

In fact, Mr Mitsotakis had a new telephone communication today with Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis.

It is recalled that yesterday Charles Michel had a telephone conversation with Tayyip Erdogan and asked Turkey to refrain from activities that increase tensions.

It is worth noting that in the context of diplomatic and other moves made by the Greek government, the rhetoric of government officials has been adapted, emphasizing that Turkey is now issuing “war threats.”

The only country that threatens its neighbors with war

It is typical what Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said today during his meeting with his Maltese counterpart in the context of the preparation of the MED7 summit, but also what the government spokesman said identically during the briefing of the political authors.

Turkey is the only country that is opening war fronts in the region and threatening its neighbors with war, violating the UN charter, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias recently stressed, making extensive reference to the sequence of aggressive and provocative actions and statements. from Turkey.

Earlier, a government spokesperson said:

“It is already clear that the illegal and provocative movements in Ankara have gone astray.

They began last November with the signing of the illegal and non-existent Turkish-Turkish memorandum.

They continued to incite a massive invasion of persecuted people in Evros.

They took on a provocative character throughout the civilized world with the transformation of Agia Sofia and, later, the Chora Monastery, into mosques.

They culminated in the departure of Oruc Reis and units of the Turkish Fleet in areas of the Greek continental shelf and were expanded with the renewal of illegal naval announcements.

During all this time, the Turkish leadership unleashes, almost daily, threats of war and engages in provocative reports against Greece.

Challenges and threats stop, discussions and explorations begin

We respond with political, diplomatic and operational availability, determined to do everything necessary to protect our sovereign rights.

We want, and we have demonstrated this by signing the agreements with Italy and Egypt, the delimitation of our maritime zones with all neighboring countries, including Turkey. However, dialogue under threats and challenges is not possible.

Our message, and repeated many times by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is clear: challenges stop, discussions begin. Threats stop, exploratory contacts begin. Always, of course, based on International Law and in particular on the UN Convention. by the Law of the Sea.

So that either we find a solution to the only pending issue, which is the delimitation of maritime zones, or we draft a joint statement for the joint referral of the issue to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

At the same time, we point out to the international community that the Turkish provocation is not only directed against Greece and Cyprus.

It concerns the whole EU, it refers to NATO, it refers to peace and stability in the Mediterranean. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already sent a letter, delivered by the Foreign Minister, to the United Nations Secretary-General presenting and documenting the illegal activity in Ankara.

Greece moves with composure, vigilance and national confidence, giving priority to diplomacy. You are not dragged in, bullied, or blackmailed.

At the same time, we are in contact with friendly countries to strengthen the equipment of our Armed Forces ”.

Downed planes, bullets and bayonets

The processes and the diplomatic fever in Athens come amid new provocative, aggressive and threatening statements from Ankara, such as those of Mesut Haki Kasin, adviser to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on foreign policy issues.

“Our pilots will soon shoot down five or six of the Greek planes and we will enter a war. There is no way this nation can be under so much pressure. Turkey is not a nation you have to try. The bayonets of the Turkish soldiers are in place and ready. In the past, even without bullets, we would finish off the enemy with our bayonets. So go ahead, we’re waiting here, “said MX Cassin.

Inconceivable

Indeed, the propaganda in the Turkish pro-government press is raging in a similar spirit, while Yeni Safak talks about the renewal of the Turkish Navtex until September 25, noting that the research vessel, Oruc Reis, will continue its journey and head further north, reaching the water frontiers, 6 miles from Rhodes and Kastelorizo.

It is worth noting that on Sunday September 13, Katerina Sakellaropoulou will visit Kastelorizo ​​to attend events for the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the island.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas described any Turkish provocation on the occasion of Katerina Sakellaropoulou’s presence in Kastelorizo ​​as unthinkable, and stressed that such a thing would go beyond the limits of provocations and tension provoked by Turkey so far.

France is the only hope

All weather indicative are also articles in the German media in recent days, which dw coded in today’s article.

“How much does Erdogan’s peace cost?” is the title of the article on the front page of the NTV news website.

“The Turkish president does not live only by his well-known insults, but openly threatens war. He swears by his followers to fight the “greedy and incompetent” prime ministers in Paris and Athens. He talks about “we witnesses” as if he represents 82 million Turks ready for war. Is this what an EU candidate country looks like? “wonders the columnist.

Referring to the EU, he attributes a significant part of the responsibility for its gradual alienation from Turkey, citing, among other things, statements by MEPs. Among them is Ezlem Demirel, MEP of the Left Party, who said: “What the EU has been doing for years is pure hypocrisy. While it criticizes on the one hand Turkey’s role in the conflict with Libya, on the other hand it criticizes it. equip. That must end. ”

In the Sunday edition of the Neue Zürchner Zeitung, the columnist calls on European diplomacy to use the language best understood by the Turkish president, hard language. “Charles Michel, President of the European Council, is pushing for a Mediterranean conference on maritime borders, refugees and the exploitation of potential underground wealth. However, it would be Brussels’s job to finally implement the sanctions that have been announced for months against Turkey. The only hope in this sad landscape is France. “It supports Greece with its army because, like all authoritarian (leaders), Erdogan only understands harsh language.”

Turkey is isolated

Turkey is isolated and Greece is gaining more and more allies, writes Bloomberg. Other countries with energy interests in these waters, especially Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, also voice their complaints against Ankara and support Greece.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for financial sanctions against Turkey and recently sent frigates and planes to the region. The Trump administration, having failed to resolve the crisis, could have made it worse by choosing now to facilitate the long-term arms embargo on Cyprus, the report continues.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is unlikely to be ignored. The international pressure fits perfectly with his populist-nationalist narrative about Turkey against the world.

The role of the chancellor

Referring to the Chancellor’s influence on Erdogan, Bloomberg notes that “part of his influence is evident, as Germany is one of Turkey’s main trading partners and currently holds the Presidency of the European Union.”

“One of the proposed solutions is Turkey’s participation in the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Council, from which it is excluded due to its disagreement with Cyprus.

The Chancellor’s mediation is also proposed, in order to convince their European partners, arguing that access to gas from the Eastern Mediterranean is the best alternative for Russia’s energy independence, and to convince Turkey and Cyprus that Europe is the more reasonable market for natural gas while the shortest route passes through both countries ”.

Impact on sanctions

The European Union should impose sanctions on Turkey if the country continues to violate human rights and sovereign rights in Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurtz said.

“It is dangerous to give the impression that we have two meters and two pesos. “It is correct to impose sanctions on Belarus, but what do we do with Turkey?” Kurtz said in an interview with the Italian daily La Repubblica.

“We want clear red lines. And if they are exceeded, we want to have consequences, even sanctions.” Greece is a member of the EU and, in my opinion, Turkey’s behavior is unacceptable, “said the Austrian chancellor.