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The German daily Die Welt comes to land abruptly those who believe that Turkey withdrew from Oruc Reis and “dragged” itself into dialogue with Greece for fear of EU sanctions and the activation of the international factor in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The coronavirus is a pretext for the postponement of the Synod
From today Welt article challenging the formal justification for the transfer a week later EU Summit, essentially confirms that Europe is divided over its position vis-à-vis Turkey, and this in fact is confirmed by its publication German wave that Germany rejects and wants to avoid sanctions against Turkey.
The invocation of the coronavirus case – according to Di Welt – for the cancellation of the Summit that was scheduled for today and tomorrow, is pretentious. As he notes in his online version, “This week’s EU summit was abruptly canceled due to a case of coronavirus. Presumably. The real reason is probably that the summit would fail miserably.” Because at this point it appears that the Europeans are living in different political realities. “
The Cypriot veto
According to Die Welt, the real reason for the cancellation of the Summit and its postponement to October 1 and 2 was the veto of Cyprus at the meeting of Foreign Ministers, as the Republic of Cyprus blocks the imposition of sanctions on Belarus unless sanctions are imposed on Turkey first.
In this context, the postponement of the EU Summit officially announced the start of the 61st round of exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey.
For now, the date of the first date in Istanbul remains a mystery. “At the moment, there is no date for the resumption of exploratory contacts. We maintain the positive element that we are going to go there relatively soon,” Stelios Petsas said when asked about it and gave the feeling that now is the time to let Athens and Ankara sit at the table.
Maximalist …
What is certain is that in the context of a divided Europe and a NATO Pontius Pilate, Tayyip Erdogan has been involved in a series of diplomatic contacts with important European leaders such as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President Emmanuel Macron, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the Secretary General of NATO In their contacts and communications, the Turkish president strongly promotes the Turkish position that Turkey’s provocation is not responsible for the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, but at the heart of this tension are the “maximalist” positions of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.
The prime minister had a telephone conversation this afternoon. Kyriakos Mitsotakis with NATO Secretary General Jens StoltenbergHowever, without revealing substantial details of the conversation between the two men, apart from the obvious that during the conversation, the de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean region was discussed after the departure of the research vessel Oruc Reis. 
They greet
The prime minister’s communication with the NATO secretary general comes after a barrage of diplomatic contacts between Tayyip Erdoγan in the last 24 hours, which aims to secure their positions ahead of the start of the 61st round of exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey, as well as communication. possibly and video conference to be held soon with Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
What is striking, however, is that all European leaders and the American side welcomed the initiation of exploratory contacts, while during their talks with Tayyip Erdogan, the Europeans did not respond to the Turkish president’s accusation of having Athens. and Nicosia. “Maximalist positions”.
Turkey’s aspirations
Ankara, in essence, insists on a broader dialogue that will not be limited to the definition of maritime zones (EEZ and continental shelf), and that is what Erdogan did in his talks with European leaders and the Secretary General. of NATO.
The Turkish Navtex is operating in this direction for exercises in the northeast Aegean islands, and this time in Lemnos on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The symbolism of this version of Navtex is obvious since it was issued at a time when Athens announced the start of exploratory contacts and is linked to Turkey’s demand for the demilitarization of the Aegean islands.
Greece’s positions
Athens, for its part, maintains that the agenda refers to the discussion of the main difference between Greek-Turkish from 1974 to today, namely, the definition of maritime-continental shelf areas and EEZ, and does not include what Tayyip erdogan. In this sense, the two parties will seek to find common ground in terms of a possible dialogue, something that Nikos Dendias was quick to clarify from the beginning, who clarified that it is not a matter of negotiations but of discussions that will determine the rules from which negotiations will take place. .
On the issue of demilitarization and if the government is discussing it, Stelios Petsas was categorically negative. To the question of whether the government can ensure that the agenda will not include the issue of the reduction or withdrawal of forces or weapons from the Greek islands, the government representative’s answer was blunt and absolute: “Of course.”
“It is clear from the announcement that we are moving in the context of the rounds of exploratory contacts. We are talking about the 61st round of exploratory contacts. Where they stopped in March 2016, from there they will continue. It is clear, then, that the content it is the delimitation of the maritime zones, the EEZ and the continental shelf. There is nothing else, “said Stelios Petsas.
In any case, despite the stance of the international community (EU, NATO and US) on the terms of the dialogue between Greece and Turkey, the government sees the latest developments as a success of its strategy. 
It was worth it
In this direction, the current statements during the briefing of the political authors by the government spokesperson.
As we have already said, the Agreement on the resumption of exploratory contacts is a positive step. Of course, there is a need, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted yesterday in the KLA Summit teleconference, for continuity and coherence on the part of Turkey.
The Agreement shows that the Government’s approach at the operational and diplomatic level has paid off. Why: From the beginning, the government made it clear that it was ready for dialogue, but not under threats and blackmail. He clarified that the purpose of the exploratory contacts is the delimitation of the maritime zones, continental shelf and EEZ.
Greece is entering into exploratory contacts, while it has already signed international legal agreements with Italy and Egypt, confirming the islands’ right to the continental shelf and the EEZ.
In all his international contacts, the Prime Minister highlighted the European dimension of the problem that touches vital European interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. “There is now a list of sanctions in case Turkey insists on unilateral action,” said Stelios Petsas.
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