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German Foreign Minister Haiko Maas brought a bad blanket to Athens and Nicosia, describing talks and negotiations with Ankara as the only way, at a time when Turkey has stepped up its offensive and with the new Navtex sends Oruc Reis to investigations, 6 5 miles from Kastelorizo, challenging Greek sovereignty and the right to extend the territorial waters of Greece from 6 to 12 nautical miles.
Turkey chooses the path of sanctions
Indeed, both Haiko Maas’ discouraging response to Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Dendias, who indirectly but clearly raised the issue of imposing sanctions on Turkey, as well as the official agenda of the October 15-16 Summit, where challenges Turks are in the Aegean, Cyprus. off the official agenda, they turn the EU into Pontius Pilate and a mere spectator of the new Turkish challenges.
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The dialogue that Kyriakos Mitsotakis had with Haikos Maas at the Maximos Palace is revealing. Recalling what was agreed at the last meeting in Brussels, the Greek prime minister raised the issue of sanctions as “engaging in a dialogue in good faith and refraining from unilateral actions that go against the interests of the EU and violate international law and regulations. sovereign rights of EU member states “. is an absolute precondition “, which means that it is a precondition for the improvement of our relationship with Turkey. What we have seen since then is the resumption of the activities of Oruc Reis and of course also the opening of the waterfront closed in Varosia, Cyprus, which remained closed for 46 years. ”
“At the recent European Council, we gave Turkey a clear choice. Either renew its relations with Europe or it will face the consequences if this aggressive behavior continues. Unfortunately, it seems that, for now, Turkey has chosen the second path. We must remember that in paragraph 21 of the Council conclusions, we make it clear that should Turkey’s unilateral actions and provocations continue in violation of international law, we, as the European Union, will use all available tools and options that we have. We will closely monitor developments and make appropriate decisions by December, “added Mr. Mitsotakis.
We are not talking in the current circumstances.
“It just came to our notice then. I would like to reiterate that we fully intend to start a productive dialogue with Turkey. As you know, with the mediation of Germany, we agreed, at least twice, to restart exploratory contacts from where they left off in March of 2016, with the aim of reaching an agreement on the demarcation of our maritime zones.
This was the subject of those exploratory contacts. And unfortunately, instead of setting a date, Mr. Tsavousoglou told Minister Dendias less than a week ago that Turkey would invite Greece to initiate exploratory contacts, and instead of a date for the initiation of exploratory contacts, we have: Oruc. Reis to navigate within the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone.
“Obviously, we will not proceed to discussions under these circumstances, with a ship at sea, and I hope that the issue will be discussed again at the next European Council, so that we can see the latest developments,” he said.
Measures to enforce legality
Nikos Dendias’ message in his joint statements with Haikos Maas was similar. “Turkey’s behavior proves that it says and does other things: it claims that it wants dialogue, but with its actions it energizes it,” said the Greek foreign minister.
“Unfortunately, Turkey’s insistence on crime forces us to discuss measures to enforce international law.”
German … understanding
However, Haiko Maas seemed deaf and essentially gave another dimension to the cancellation of his trip to Ankara as with his trip to Nicosia and Athens he went so far as to say that Germany wants at all costs to avoid imposing sanctions on Turkey.
Apart from some words of “understanding” about the “annoyance”, “anger” and “irritation” that exists in Greece and Cyprus over Varosia and Oruc Reis, the German Foreign Minister addressed Mr. Mitsotakis as if nothing was wrong. He said :
“However, I must tell you that based on the decisions made in the Council, I believe that we only have one possibility, which is dialogue, to lead to some results. That is why I considered it good to do this tour, this trip, which led me to Nicosia and here in Athens where my journey stops ”and was essentially given the wishes of solidarity from Europe in Greece and Cyprus.
Dialogue with Oruc Reis in Kastelorizo!
This is exactly the spirit that Mr. Maas put into his statements with Nikos Dendias. The German Foreign Minister, while acknowledging that there can be no dialogue under the responsibility of Turkey at this time, since “the talks take place only in a climate of trust and security, which does not apply at this stage,” referring to however to the German mediation for the resumption of exploratory contacts he argued that it is a one-way street.
“Germany tried to take on the role of mediator and we are very happy that with the really active participation of the Greek side, we got two declarations from Turkey, aimed at the resumption of talks between Turkey and Greece,” Maas said.
“Our efforts have led us to have spaces for negotiations, dialogues, which for us is the only way.”
Controversial areas
Indeed, Haiko Maas from Nicosia spoke about “Kastelorizo’s controversial maritime areas” when the subject of Turkish challenges now concerns territorial waters and not just the Greek continental shelf.
However, this did not prevent him from assessing that Turkey’s actions “are the exact opposite of a Confidence Building Measure as we understand it” and added that “if this vessel undertakes new gas exploration in the disputed maritime areas” It is a severe blow for de-escalation efforts in the eastern Mediterranean and for Germany and for the further development of Euro-Turkish relations.
Turkey is off the official agenda
At the same time, the EU washes its hands since, since Charles Michel’s official invitation for the October 15-16 Summit, there is no reference to Turkey, and the “27” is mainly focused on issues such as the coronavirus. , Brexit and climate.
Of course, there is a general reference to “other foreign policy issues that require our attention.”
Clearly, this development “cuts off” any possibility of imposing sanctions on Turkey and once again reflects the reluctance and reluctance of the EU to take substantive action, amid wishful thinking, at a time when Oruc Reis is threatening to enter. area located at 12 nm from Kastellorizo.
No way
The German and European response so far essentially undermines the Greek government’s basic line expressed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Greece cannot sit at the table of exploratory contacts with Oruc Reis in Kastelorizo.
In fact, since this morning Athens has clarified with repeated statements from both Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, government spokesman Stelios Petsas and Minister of State George Gerapetritis that in the current circumstances with Turkey it intends to send Oruc Reis 6.5 miles . Kastelorizo, there is no case for Greece to enter into talks with Turkey.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz condemned Turkey’s actions and warned of sanctions.
“I unequivocally condemn the new investigations of the Oruc Reis vessel in Greek territorial waters and the opening of Varosia in Cyprus. “Both movements clearly violate international law,” wrote the Austrian chancellor.
He added: “If Turkey continues to violate international law, it will face the threat of sanctions from the EU. Negotiations with the EU must also be stopped.”
Breaking point
However, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean is at a tipping point with Oruc Reis turning into a thriller, with Turkey aiming not only at challenging not only Greece’s sovereign rights, but also part of its sovereignty, such as the right to extend territorial waters 6 to 12 miles.
What Konstantinos Filis told in.gr is characteristic, but also what Navy Admiral ea Stelios Fenekos said commenting on developments with the departure of the research vessel in the eastern Mediterranean.
The risk of achievement
“The crucial question is how far the Oruc Reis will go to the investigations and whether it will eventually violate the 6-12 nautical miles from Kastelorizo, which is the red line for Athens,” Fenekos said.
Speaking in r / s Thema, Mr. Fenekos was critical of those who speak of a dynamic response by Greece to the new Turkish challenge, saying the following:
“If the rhetoric of war continues, that is, if the Greek army will sink Oruc Reis, this rhetoric should make it or stop,” he said, adding, however, that that possibility is a casus belli for Ankara.
In any case, Greece must not allow Oruc Reis to enter an area located 6.5 nautical miles from Kastelorizo under any circumstances, clarifies Mr. Filis since – as he explains – this would lead to the loss of legal right. of Greece for the extension of its territorial waters up to 12 m. In other words, Turkey will have managed to create a perfect situation to the detriment of our country.
“We should stop the Oruc Reis, obviously exhausting diplomatic margins, but at the same time erecting an operational wall against the Turkish investigation. Greece must not operationally allow entry to an area located 10.5 kilometers from Kastelorizo.” Because, we do allow it. this and we began to pursue it with warships, we will have failed, “he characteristically says.
Celik’s New War Threats
Another threat of war on the occasion of the illegal resumption of the investigations of Oruc Reis against Kastelorizo was made by the representative of Turkey’s ruling AKP party, Omer Celik.
Celik commented on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean at a press conference and again questioned the Seville Agreement.
According to CNN Turk, he said: “It appears that all the statements from various countries after the resumption of Oruc Reis operations were written by the Greek Foreign Ministry. Nothing can be achieved by intimidation and coercion.” Yes We oppose a force that does not value diplomatic efforts and with constant threats tries to violate the rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, so we are ready to respond both at the negotiating table and on the battlefield. ” .
Regarding the opening of Varosia, the AKP representative commented that there is no unfair treatment. “We supported the TRNC, they made the right decision. This area belongs to the Turkish Cypriots.” No one has the right to intervene. ”
Akar: Don’t test us
Earlier, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar claimed that his country was calling for a dialogue to solve problems in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean.
At the same time, however, he warned that “no one should test” Turkey: “Don’t test us.” “Let’s solve what is needed through conversations, through dialogue.”
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