[ad_1]
The French center-right leader in the European Parliament believes the time has come for Europe to impose sanctions on Erdogan and his entourage. Europe makes a great political mistake in trying to appease Turkey, as F. Bellamy says to the liberal, criticizing the attitude of Germany and those countries that expose their economic interests. “You can’t have peace if you don’t show your fist. “Turkey’s destabilization strategy cannot be stopped if it does not oppose force,” said the leader of the French Conservative Party (Les Republicains) MEPs.
He believes that after the dimensions of Erdogan’s incendiary stance against President Macron, something has started to change, that European leaders and governments will finally realize what is at stake.
“The problem with Turkey is European. Erdogan, as he behaves against the French president and against Greece, will behave in exactly the same way with any country that wants to deny his destabilization strategy.” As long as we remain silent, he will continue to press, until May he win all he can, “said the French MEP.
Interview with George Fintikakis
– The offensive attitude of the Turkish president against President Macron has provoked a barrage of European reactions and follows the Turkish provocations in the eastern Mediterranean. When will Europe realize that it cannot ignore the “Erdogan problem”?
I fear that in Europe there is a great lack of courage and awareness of the importance of this challenge. I was recently in Greece because I wanted to help raise awareness about what is happening between Greece and Turkey. I wanted to show that this is not a regional problem, that it does not concern Greek-Turkish relations.
And now we see it very clearly. The problem is European. And we see it with Erdogan’s behavior against the French president. It will behave in exactly the same way with any country that wants to deny its destabilization strategy. That is why we must be strong and united, only with courage and calm can we stop their movements. As long as we remain silent, he will go on and push, push and push, until he wins as much as he can.
– So what else does Europe need to see to act against Erdogan?
Everyone sees what is really happening, but there is a perception that we should try to defuse the situation and come to a solution through appeasement, without responding to the Turkish challenges.
– Do you agree with this attitude?
Of course, no. I think we are making a big mistake. I think we are making a moral mistake, such as the European Union’s attempt to continue the debate on procedures such as the customs connection with Turkey. Unthinkable, it is a public insult. It is a challenge for the EU to have this attitude towards a country that offends European leaders, violates European sovereign rights, threatens the territorial integrity of two member states, namely Greece and Cyprus.
What EU are we talking about when we deny its members such threats? Here we are talking about a great moral error. In Europe, we cannot constantly invoke the rule of law, but ignore the fact that Erdogan is trying to impose the supremacy of power over the law. But this is not just a moral error. This is a great political error, a tactical error because the destabilization strategy of a country cannot be stopped if it is not opposed by force. You can’t have peace if you don’t show your fist.
– You spoke of the tactic of appeasement and a great political mistake. What is your opinion on Germany’s attitude towards Erdogan so far?
It’s not just the Germans’ fault. It is a mistake for Europe as a whole. And I don’t hear so many European leaders speaking out loud about Turkey. Of course, Germany also has a special relationship with Turkey. I’m sorry to say that, but I see that Germany is treating the situation with an obvious bias. Of course, I see that my German colleagues, like Manfred Weber, the head of the parliamentary group of the European People’s Party, have very clear and unequivocal points of view.
That is, the EU’s negotiations with Turkey must end immediately and sanctions must be imposed on it. I fully support these positions. It is a clear message that beyond interests there is a political debate that we must have in Europe, but unfortunately, to date, it does not seem that we are ready to do so.
– However, it seems that for several European countries their economic interests are paramount in Turkey …
It is completely wrong for those who bet on the development of the economy when there is political instability.
If we do not stop Erdogan’s behavior, who guarantees that tomorrow he will respect European investments in Turkey? Tomorrow I could do whatever I wanted. Therefore, we must show that we know how to defend our interests when they are in danger. And that starts with the need to talk about sanctions here and now. I strongly support Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who calls for the activation of sanctions.
– What are the chances that we will see measures and sanctions against Turkey in the near future, following yesterday’s request from France?
My feeling is that something is starting to change. I hope that colleagues in the European Parliament, European leaders and governments will finally realize what is at stake.
– Would you say that Erdogan’s insults to Em. Macron work as a catalyst in this direction?
I felt the same way when we recently discussed the aggressive action of the Oruc Reis research vessel, which has been on the Greek continental shelf for so long. What you have to do now is take action.
It is not enough to say that we support Greece. We have to get to the point where we force Erdogan to resign. And that was exactly what was missing from the last meeting of the European Council. The European Council did not even dare to use the word sanctions. In the case of Belarus, we quickly imposed sanctions on 40 people in the vicinity of Lukashenko. But Belarus does not seek to invade an EU member state, does not seek to divide European societies under the guise of religion, nor does it seek to provoke civil strife as Erdogan did.
How is it possible to show a fist against Lukashenko, but not against Erdogan? Respect and understand only the fist. And we can only stop the violence with a clear, calm and decisive show of the fist, which means imposing sanctions and targeting Mr. Erdogan and his entourage. That is what the EU must do immediately. If we do, we will have nothing to fear from now on. The Turkish economy is very weak, Erdogan is being criticized within his own country and he is strong because we are silent. If we stop being silent, it will recede.
We must do the same to support two EU Member States. Greece has been through a lot in the last decade and, in the eyes of many Greeks, Europe has been synonymous with austerity, measures and memoranda. If now is not an opportunity for Europe to show solidarity with the Greeks in practice, when will it be?
* François-Xavier Bellamy, leader of the MEPs of the French Conservative Party (Les Republicains)
[ad_2]
