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Athens is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to create the largest possible alliance that will tip the balance in favor of imposing sanctions on Turkey. At the same time, it is on high alert in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean for the possibility of Turkey taking on an extreme challenge, as it has recently revealed it intends to do.
The attempt by a Turkish frigate to harass a corresponding Egyptian frigate that participated in the exercise “Medusa” demonstrates the irritation of Ankara in the last 24 hours as the neo-Ottoman crowns the demilitarization of dozens of Aegean islands and the liberation of Navtex. Crete, compose the image of a country in full swing.
Great irritation
It has become clear in recent days that the frustration in Europe over Turkey is quite great, while Athens has said with every tone that this time Ankara will not accept the consequences of criminal behavior. Furthermore, as Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated on Monday night, the vast majority of European countries are in favor of Greece.
The prime minister sent the message that Turkey’s behavior represents a threat to the stability and security of the region. He noted that what we have achieved is to convert the Greek-Turkish differences into Euro-Turkish. This had not happened in the past, he added, emphasizing that systematic diplomatic work was needed.
Support in Greece and Cyprus is evident
Referring to the European Council, he said that it gave Turkey two options in October and noted that it was clear that Turkey had not adopted a positive agenda. Regarding the degree of measures and decisions of the European Council, he stated that this is not something that can be ruled out and expressed the conviction that the EU will not jeopardize its own prestige. “I am not referring to the evident support in Greece and Cyprus. He has made a decision with a clear timetable. Everything is on the table. At the moment, the vast majority of countries are aligned with Greece,” he explained.
At the same time, he stated that Turkey is also not interested in maintaining this tension and asked it to reassess its relationship with Europe. She can’t be right and everyone else is wrong, she noted. 
In this context, he stressed that Greece is willing to discuss with Turkey on the condition that there is no tension at sea, the only important issue which is the delimitation of the continental shelf, the maritime zones. “We are currently in disagreement about the EEZ in these areas.” If we cannot find a solution, we must go to the Court in The Hague, “he repeated.
Moving on the same wavelength, he emphasized that Turkey needs to change its stance and made clear: “We will need a period of de-escalation practice.” He also pointed out that Turkey had the opportunity to withdraw Oruch Reyes from October and did so 10 days before the Summit.
A challenge for the EU as a whole
“Turkey’s stance is a challenge for the EU as a whole,” the foreign minister said in a statement on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. Nikos Dendias stressed that “it was clear that there should be a reaction towards Turkey.” 
In particular, Mr. Dendias noted that “in today’s Council there was an extensive debate on Turkish crime. All Foreign Ministers noted that Turkey did not understand the positive message from the EU from the October Council. Instead, he continued with their criminal behavior. In fact, in a completely unacceptable context, the threat of war against Greece if it extends its territorial waters to 12 miles. I note that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the convention that extends territorial waters At 12 miles, it is part of European law, ratified by the EU itself, so Turkey’s position is a challenge for the Union as a whole. From there, it was clear that there should be a reaction against Turkey. And that is what will be discussed in the Council of Heads of State and Government this week ”. 
The Foreign Minister, in cooperation with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulidis, whom he met on Friday, is expected to present all the Turkish challenges starting in October with an emphasis on the navtex for “Oruts Reyes”, issued after the warnings. but also the picnic in Varos. Last Saturday, Dendias also had a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. After Brussels, Dendias will go to Amman for the Greece – Cyprus – Jordan tripartite.
Serious escalation
Meanwhile, according to analysts, a serious escalation of events is particularly likely in the post-Summit period and apparently before Joe Biden’s handover of power on January 20 and the assumption of the EU presidency. from Portugal to replace Germany. 
Although within the EU There are different levels of perception of Turkish practice It is considered a common fact that Euro-Turkish positions are at their worst. In fact, European officials such as the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, are increasing the pressure and underline that “we communicated with Turkey in October and our assessment is negative. We will have a discussion at the Summit and we are ready to use the means at our disposal. disposition “.
Charles Michel Warning
In particular, European Council President Charles Michel last week demanded that Turkey stop “gambling”, offering concessions only to win them back. 
The country that holds the key to imposing sanctions on Turkey is Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency this semester. Berlin hoped to mediate between Athens and Ankara, but was outraged when Turkey resumed exploration of gas fields off Cyprus in October, after a brief hiatus.
“The fact that the ship (Oruç Reis) was returned to the sea immediately after the (October summit) was not well received by the Member States, who made great efforts (…). “Germany’s patience has its limits,” said a European diplomat familiar with the preparations for the European Council.
Raised the issue of 152 islands
The provocative actions with the new illegal Navtex, the inflammatory rhetoric such as that of the instigator of the “Blue Homeland” Jihad Yaci, who more or less raised the issue of 152 islands, islets and islets, but also the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on sovereignty. Kastellorizo, they do not leave much margin for Europe, which will have to rise to the occasion and go through the sanctions phase this time. 
Earlier, the European Council warned Turkey in all respects to stop exploring the eastern Mediterranean waters, saying it would face repercussions otherwise.
“As far as I know, no EU government disputes the view that the situation is worse today than in October, so leaders must consider what the consequences will be,” said a European official. “We asked for a change and it didn’t come,” he said, noting that Europe’s patience was wearing thin.
The European Union is recording the continuation of the investigation activities of the Turkish ships in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean, which Athens stresses makes it impossible to start formal talks with Ankara on the disagreements of the two sides.
Sisi to Macron
Erdogan, meanwhile, has not stopped attacking French President Emmanuel Macron for his stance on the Turkish provocation, saying he hopes France will get rid of him soon, calling the problem dangerous for France. times. 
Of particular importance for the Eastern Mediterranean is the visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Paris and the meeting with Macron, following the French president’s statement on cooperation between the two countries to stabilize the region.
It should be noted that Egypt intervened, along with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, according to the information (“Liberal” from Cyprus) and managed to block a resolution in favor of a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem, which Turkey tried approve, in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, maintaining the vocabulary of recent years, with the negatives it contains.
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