[ad_1]
Diplomatic marathon in Athens, with a view to the December 10 Summit, with the aim of starting the sanctions process in Turkey. Yesterday, there were repeated contacts of the Prime Minister for the preparation of the Summit, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs also had communication with his counterparts.
Over the past week, Ankara launched a “public relations” effort to reverse the climate of discontent and frustration in Brussels and most European capitals and avoid sanctions that could prove unbearable.
RELEVANT ARTICLES
Greece, for its part, exposes the situation that has arisen by listing Turkey’s challenges in the interim period since the October Summit and the dangers it poses. At the same time, it seeks to deconstruct the operation of the “charm” on the Turkish side, although the current climate is that no one in Europe is convinced by Erdogan’s statements. Unless… you want to, a case where it’s difficult to approach by argument. The fact is that countries that are not isolated from imposing sanctions recognize that both the departure of Oruc Reis and Turkey’s willingness for dialogue are pretexts.
The most prevalent scenario for the Summit
As for the prevailing scenario for the outcome of the Summit, the preferred one is to instruct the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU to draw up a list of sanctions against Turkey, which will be activated if Ankara returns to the track provocation in the near future. European and diplomatic sources believe that it is a common component in which there may be unanimity of the 27 leaders and at the same time not hurt the prestige of the Union by giving a simple pardon to the Turkish president. This is the list that Mr. Borrell began to compile last August, but has not delivered it to date. It is considered that such a decision by the Council “will put the water in the ditch for the start of sanctions in Turkey,” according to the sources.
Macron in favor of sanctions against Turkey
The most ardent supporter of the “here and now” sanctions is Emanuel Macron. Yesterday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a telephone conversation with the French president and they discussed in detail the issue of sanctions in Turkey. The perception of the two countries of the Turkish provocation and aggression in the eastern Mediterranean is a fact, while Macron seems ready to take initiatives on the issue. Austria is on the same wavelength, while Luxembourg, Ireland and the Czech Republic are on the side of Greece and Cyprus. The attitude of the Netherlands is also expected to work positively. Although he opposed the tough stance against Ankara in the past, the country’s parliament voted in favor of an arms embargo on Turkey and its stance has changed. An attempt is being made to take a step forward for Poland and Hungary, according to the information.
Of course, the attitude of Germany and Spain is of special importance, countries that for economic reasons fundamentally, although Berlin has others such as refugees, block sanctions. It is questionable to what extent they are willing to block decisions if there is a lot of pressure from other countries or if they will contribute to a compromise solution that satisfies all parties.
America’s attitude toward the new environment is also crucial. Yesterday, Mike Pompeo during the NATO Foreign Ministers Summit was very tough on Turkey, highlighting that Ankara opposes the principles and functioning of the Alliance, thus undermining its cohesion. And the next new administration in the United States is expected to be tougher on Erdogan, changing the data compared to Donald Trump. Community sources assume that this attitude will also affect European politics, but this may cause delays in decision-making since it is estimated that a consultation with the new tenant of the White House will be sought.
[ad_2]
