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France is picking up the deck that will be distributed to the great bank of the next European Council, with the first batch of papers and days from Erdogan. The Macron government has shown in every way that it will play the role of sanctions against Turkey, even if Berlin seems reluctant to take action.
However, the credibility of the EU is now being assessed in the Council, and many countries, including Greece, consider that since the Summit last October, Ankara has not taken the slightest step in complying with European recommendations, but rather has given more rope energizing the situation.
Resolution
Indicative of the prevailing climate is that, for the first time, the European Parliament, by a large majority, voted in favor of the strict imposition of sanctions on Turkey, adopting the amendment presented by the Greek and Cypriot delegations, at the initiative of Vangelis Meimarakis, Lefteris Christoforou and L.
It has become clear that the policies followed in Libya, Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh, the rhetoric of hatred towards France, the extreme provocation in Varosia and the tsaboukas with the German ship, have upset many European capitals with the The Secretary General of the EU , Josep Borrell, to warn Turkey that time is running out and that Union leaders will be called upon to decide on the Brussels-Ankara relationship, amid a widening gap between the two sides.
The mask fell
The position that Athens will take in the next Council was made very clear not only by the statements of the government representative, but also by the telephone call of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias to the Secretary General. of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.
Petsas argued that “in recent days, Turkey has been trying to cover the rioter’s face with a pacifier mask. But Europe is not naive. Turkey, on the one hand, continues its illegal activity in areas that overlap the continental shelf. Greek and, on the other hand, speaks in a general and vague way about the intention of dialogue with Greece.
It is clear that it is plagued by the tension of sanctions, in view of the December European Council. He did the same before the October Summit. But in last minute words, it doesn’t convince. 
At the same time, Nikos Dendias warned NATO that the cohesion of the Alliance is fluid due to Turkey’s criminal behavior.
The Greek side in the council will demonstrate Turkey’s challenges, especially from the October Summit onwards, wanting to emphasize that Ankara blatantly ignores the EU, while its aggression is not directed only against Greece and Cyprus, but against Europe as a whole. , highlighting the instrumentalization of religion, immigration, but also the role of Turkey in the movements of the jihadists.
Athens polishes her weapons
Diplomatic sources in Athens estimate that Ankara is not excluded from proceeding with an invitation to investigations after 11/29, wanting to catch the Greek side, possibly returning to the challenges after the European Council.
However, Athens is rapidly implementing programs related to the upgrade and maintenance of weapons systems, such as S-300 missiles, Patriot missiles, Sperwere Army UAVs, “Penguin MK2” guided missiles, but also boats. The Special Forces “unlock” the Ministry of Defense to make the most of the important weapons at the disposal of the Armed Forces. 
Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos briefed members of Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Arms Programs and Contracts on the sub-programs that have been submitted for opinion in the presence of Deputy Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis, the leaders and the CEO of GDAEO Thedo. The objective of the political and military leadership of the Ministry of Defense is not to waste any more time maintaining strategically important weapons systems.
The sub-programs also include technical support for the AH-64 “Apache” helicopters and the supply of spare parts, as well as the conclusion of a transnational agreement with the US through FMS for the subsequent support of the C-type transport aircraft. -130. In order to streamline the procedures for the weapons programs and make the work even more efficient, GEETHA has assigned additional personnel to the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments. 
France is determined
France is leading the effort to impose sanctions on Turkey after the European Union threatened to impose sanctions in October, but it will have to win the support of EU governments as well as Greece and Cyprus, officials and diplomats said.
Paris emphasizes that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not listen to warnings from EU leaders on October 1 to back down from the dispute over Turkish gas exploration in the Mediterranean or face the consequences.
“Turkey knows what to do,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the French parliament this week. “Confrontation or cooperation depends on them.”
Inner front
SYRIZA Foreign Minister George Katrougalos spoke of possible maneuvers by Turkey in the run-up to the EU Summit, but insisted on the need for sanctions to counter the escalation of Turkish aggression, as the latest Turkish Navtex has raised the problem of illegal activities in Greece. 5.8 mn from Kastelorizo.
G. Katrougalos, after the briefing he had from Nikos Dendias, spoke about a gap in the government’s strategy in Greek-Turkish relations, while describing the improvement of Greece’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates as a development. positive.
“I pointed out to the minister that Turkey’s latest illegal NAVTEX raises the issue of illegal activity within our country’s territorial waters 5.8 miles away. And I pointed out to him the need to address this growing aggression by Turkey and its possible maneuvers towards the December Summit with a resolute position from Greece, which will raise the issue of substantial sanctions again in the Council.
But until then, Mr. Mitsotakis should tell us if he has red lines, to consider, for example, the red line sending a drilling rig, illegal activity west of the 28th meridian. “Because so far the lack of a compass in foreign policy and the lack of clear red lines frighten the Turkish provocation, “said G. Katrougalos.
The European Parliament resolution on Varos
The European Parliament resolution on the situation in Varos and Turkey’s non-compliance with Resolutions 500 and 2483 of the UN Security Council was adopted by 631 votes to one. 
At the same time, the EP urges the Turkish government to reverse this decision and avoid any unilateral action that could cause further tensions on the island, according to a recent appeal by the UN Security Council, which calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from the island. Cyprus, to transfer the Varos region to its legal inhabitants under the Interim Administration of the United Nations in accordance with Resolution 550 (1984) of the UN Security Council, and to refrain from any action that distorts the demographic balance of the island through the implementation of the illegal settlement policy.
Previously, by a large majority (440 votes in favor, 193 against), an amendment tabled by the Greek and Cypriot delegations of the EPP was approved, at the initiative of Vangelis Meimarakis, Lefteris Christoforou and Loukas Fourlas (and included in this resolution) that calls for European Council to impose severe sanctions on Turkey in response to its illegal activities. “
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