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The leaders of the European Union meeting in Brussels agreed on Friday to impose sanctions on those responsible for the repression in Belarus, and also sent a firm message to Turkey, accompanied by a threat to impose sanctions if it does not stop illegal exploration in the territorial waters of Cyprus.
On Friday, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced to journalists that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is not on the list of sanctions imposed by the European Union.
These sanctions include some 40 Belarusian officials accused of suppressing dissent or manipulating the results of the presidential elections on August 9. Michel said: “President Lukashenko is not on the list.”
On Friday, a “written measure” will be used to allow these sanctions to take effect.
These sanctions will freeze any assets within the European Union of the interested persons and they will be prohibited from entering the territory of the Union.
Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told RTL radio on Thursday that “in the event that the European Union takes our side … this matter could help a lot.”
As for Turkey, the leaders of the European Union sent it a strong message, accompanied by a threat to impose sanctions on it if it did not stop illegal drilling operations in the territorial waters of Cyprus.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that “Turkey must stop its unilateral actions. If these actions continue, we will use all the tools at our disposal.”
This tough European stance towards Ankara, demanded by Cyprus, allowed Nicosia to obtain the approval of sanctions against those responsible for the repression in Belarus.
The debate between the leaders of the European Union intensified on Thursday night on the formulation of a common position towards Turkey that would be acceptable to Greece and Cyprus.
The conflict in the eastern Mediterranean between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus over fuel reserves is important in determining the results of the summit, as Nicosia refused to accept the imposition of sanctions against the Lukashenko regime unless the European Union sends first a strong message to Turkey to stop exploration and drilling operations in its territorial waters.
Cyprus demanded that the option of imposing sanctions on Ankara be clearly mentioned in the conclusions of the meeting on the relationship between the bloc and Turkey, and stipulated the development of specific measures or a threat that is “clear and timely”, according to identical sources. .
For its part, Greece wants Europeans to resort to a “carrot and stick” policy, offering to open up to Ankara, especially on the issue of the customs union, while at the same time hinting at punitive measures should Turkey continue its actions. previously condemned by the European Union, according to a Greek diplomatic source.
For his part, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that “the time has come for Europe to bravely and frankly discuss the kind of relationship it really wants with Turkey.” And he considered that “Turkey’s provocations can no longer be tolerated.”
– ‘Non-negotiable solidarity’ –
Upon arrival at the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “solidarity with Greece and Cyprus … is not negotiable.” He added: “When a member state of the European Union is attacked, when its territorial waters are not respected, it is the duty of Europeans to show their solidarity.”
On the other hand, German Chancellor Angela Merkel considered that “the European Union is interested in developing a constructive relationship with Turkey, despite all the difficulties.”
In a show of desire for calm, on Thursday an agreement was reached in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) between Greece and Turkey on a mechanism to avoid conflicts.
As for the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he considered that the Europeans were “mortgaged” with the Greeks and Cypriots, and stressed to the Turkish Parliament that he was “determined to keep open the channels of dialogue.”
