Mitsotakis: US imposes sanctions on Turkey and EU swamps to “if” and “but”



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The Greek Prime Minister, according to Politico, stated at the Summit that “it is at least paradoxical that as the United States prepares to impose sanctions on NATO member Turkey, the European Council is drowning in ‘yes’ and ‘but'”.

According to Politico sources, European leaders are starting negotiations on a third draft of conclusions for Turkey, after a half-hour hiatus, but “there is no consensus at the moment.”

A European diplomat before the recess said that Greece, Cyprus, France, Denmark and Austria were in favor of Turkey. “The positions really seem very far away,” said the diplomat. “However, not all countries are tough, as Vienna, for example, is satisfied with the current second draft,” said another diplomat.

The Greek delegation at the European Union Summit has to face a “wall” of countries that do not want to extend sanctions to Turkey. The second draft of conclusions refers to a further postponement of the relevant decisions until the next session, in March.

Although government sources stressed that before the leaders’ dinner, everything possible will be done to improve the text of the conclusions, there are governments that even reject the reference to sanctions against Turkey, stressing that there should be extensive references to the “positive agenda” of Euroturks. relations.

According to Politico, Greece was discussing the organization of a special session on relations between Europe and Turkey in February, but it quoted the “top diplomat” as saying that at this time it “does not see the need for such a thing.”

The Turkish Ministry of Commerce announced that a 50% increase in the bilateral trade agreement with Italy will be signed, reaching a total of $ 30 billion.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who attended the meeting, referred to the Latin phrase “agreements must be respected” (pacta sunt servanda).

Mitsotaki’s report had to do with the European Council’s decision at the October meeting, when, after a harsh agreement, reports on the extension of sanctions in Turkey were included in the conclusions, ending the summit dinner of tonight, in case Ankara didn’t change their assault. tactics, as it happened.

Mitsotakis addressed his statement mainly to the German delegation, as Greece has called for an embargo on the supply of offensive weapons in Ankara, at a time when six “invisible” submarines are being built in German shipyards on Erdogan’s orders.

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