[ad_1]
Published: Thursday, October 01, 2020 9:55 PM
New draft conclusions During the extraordinary meeting it was decided that the Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the President of the European Council Charles Michel, the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the president of France Emanuel Macron and the president of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis.
According to the information, the new draft text it will have a “clear reference to Turkey” but will not include the word “sanctions”.
According to government sources, Athens believes that the new draft conclusions it is better than the previous one.
The draft will be discussed after the leaders’ dinner, where the other topics of the Summit will be discussed.
After dinner consultations will continue between Greece, Germany, France and Cyprus on the text of the Summit conclusions.
It is observed that the Hellas rejected the previous draft text of the conclusions of the European Council, as well as therein not there were reference to offender behavior of Turkey, in Eastern mediterranean.
Talking to CNN Greece, the government spokesman Stelios Petsas, clarified that the text, which is a first draft of conclusions – and for whose change consultations are being held – does not satisfy the Greek side and therefore does not accept it.
Athens requests clear reporting on Turkey and the adoption of a sanctions mechanism in the event that Turkey continues its criminal behavior in the eastern Mediterranean.
Following these developments, it is estimated that the consultations at the EU Summit in Brussels will evolve into suspense novel.
Cyprus has already made it clear that he will not consent in sanctions against Belarus, if the European Council does not take action decisions and against her Turkey.
For this position, however, the Nicosia accepts strong pressures, with President Anastasiadis declaring, even before going to Brussels, that “the sanctions against Turkey are not an end in themselves.”
NATO Conflict Prevention Mechanism
At the time the Summit was underway, it became known by NATO the creation within the Alliance of a mechanism to prevent a conflict between Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The official NATO website states that: After a series of technical meetings of the Military Representatives of Greece and Turkey at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, it was established on Thursday 1the October, a way out of the conflict. The mechanism is designed to reduce τον danger events Y accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean.
It includes the creation of an open line of communication between Greece and Turkey to facilitate the prevention of collisions at sea or in the air.
In accordance with NATO The technical talks began in early September at the initiative of the Alliance Secretary General. Jens stoltenberg who made high-level contacts with Greece and Turkey.
Read in detail: Date of October 5: Ankara Announcement on NATO Agreement
Belarus is a priority
It is noted that the 27th EU is expected to adopt conclusions calling for restrictive measures “without delay” against Belarus, an immediate ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, an independent investigation on the use of chemical weapons against Alexei Navalny and a framework for the relations with the EU. Ε. – China in the near future, according to a draft passed to KYPE. The draft does not contain a paragraph on Turkey.
“For sanctions to be imposed on Belarus, we must first accept our own proposals,” a Cypriot official previously told Reuters, adding that the President of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis, met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel – who will chair the two-day Summit, in order to describe in detail the position of Nicosia.
“I imagine there will be a long debate in the European Council. I do not rule out that something could happen, but, for now, I would not bet on a positive result,” continued the same source.
Mitsotakis at the Summit: dialogue and diplomacy or sanctions
At the same time, strict message sent during your Summit attendance European Union the first Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stressing that Turkey’s provocation can no longer be accepted.
He explained that we now have two paths open: “one is the path of dialogue and diplomacy.”
The Prime Minister’s statement is as follows:
“Europe is called to boldly and sincerely decide what kind of relationship it wants to have with Turkey. Turkish provocation can no longer be tolerated. Turkey’s behavior not only violates the sovereign rights of two EU member states, Greece and Cyprus, it also harms the interests of the whole of Europe in the Mediterranean.
Now there are two roads to Turkey. One of dialogue and diplomacy. The other is the growing tension that will inevitably lead to action. Greece has shown that it wants the first path. It is up to Turkey to do the same. To do it consistently. “
“In the hands of Turkey whether it will opt for cooperation or sanctions”
Previously, Mr. Mitsotakis met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, shortly after his arrival in Brussels for the Extraordinary Session of the European Council.
A summit, provoked by Greece and the Republic of Cyprus on the occasion of the ongoing Turkish provocation.
The two leaders agreed that the EU wants a good relationship with Turkey and stability in the region. But adding that the EU is ready to use all the tools at its disposal to defend its interests and promote its objectives.
During the debate, the Prime Minister stressed that Greece wants good neighborly relations without tensions in the region. But it is clear, he added, that it is up to Turkey whether it will choose to cooperate or face the consequences of its behavior.
What the original draft foresaw
Analytically, in the draft conclusions of the European Council, regarding China, “the European Council welcomes the oral report on the meeting of the EU leaders with President Xi Jinping on 14 September and the signing of the agreement on geographical indications “.
The European Council highlights “the need to balance the economic relationship and achieve reciprocity. It recalls the objective of concluding, at the end of this year, the negotiations for an ambitious EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CAI) that addresses the current asymmetries of market access, contribute to a level playing field and establish substantial growth. ‘
He also called on China to “meet previous commitments to address barriers to market access, advance overcapacity and open negotiations on industrial subsidies to the World Trade Organization.”
Furthermore, the European Council encourages China to “assume greater responsibility to address global challenges.” This includes, in particular, “taking more ambitious climate measures in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and on biodiversity and supporting multilateral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular with regard to treatments and vaccines, and relief. Of the debt”. as a prerequisite for recovery from the pandemic, especially in Africa. “
The European Council welcomes President Xi Jinping’s statement after the leaders’ video conference that “China will aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060” as a “significant step in the right direction.”
The European Council underlines its “grave concern about the human rights situation in China, including the events in Hong Kong and the treatment of minorities, as expressed at the EU-China Summit in June and at the meeting of its leaders on September 14 “.
It reaffirms the “political rapprochement of EU-China relations as set out in the Joint Communication between the Commission and the High Representative” EU-China: A Strategic Perspective “of March 2019 and calls for more coherent efforts to implement it.” It calls on the Commission and the High Representative to present a progress report by March 2021. It looks forward to a meeting of all its members with President Xi Jinpin in 2021.
As regards Belarus, according to the project, tThe European Council “condemns the unacceptable violence of the Belarusian authorities andagainst peaceful protesters, as well as intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions after the presidential elections, the results of which he does not recognize.
The European Council “fully supports the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their president through new free and fair elections, without external interference.”
The European Council “calls on the Belarusian authorities to put an end to violence and repression, to release all political detainees and prisoners, to respect the freedom of the media and civil society and to initiate a global national dialogue “.
He agreed that “restrictive measures should be imposed and called on the Council to approve the decision without delay.”
With regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the European Council calls for “an immediate cessation of hostilities and calls on the parties to return to a lasting ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the conflict.” “The loss of human life and weight of the civilian population is unacceptable. There can be no military solution to the conflict or external intervention. “Azerbaijan and Armenia must begin substantive negotiations without preconditions,” the draft said.
For its part, the Deutsche Welle network reported that the leaders are expected to make it clear to Turkey that the resumption of relations with the EU presupposes the resolution of all the problems with Greece and Cyprus. However, they do not appear to be willing to accept Nicosia’s request for sanctions against Ankara.
