The diplomatic activation of Athens with the internationalization of Turkish delinquency seems to be bearing fruit.
By Penelope Galliou
Regular maneuvering or decompression reversal of Turkish provocation? Whatever the reason, for the last two twenty-four hours the Turkish side tends to de-escalate the tensionwith the main exponent being Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar, shows the “fruits” of Athens’ diplomatic activation and its decision to internationalize Turkish delinquency in a timely and uninterrupted manner. It also shows that upcoming crucial sessionsso its European Council in a week, as well as his NATO at the end of June, they “brake” the Turkish frenzy, for fear of further sanctions and pressure on Ankara. After all, it is already known to the Turkish leadership that Kyriakos Mitsotakis will emphasize the Turkish delinquency at the forthcoming Summit of 27 European leaders, calling for the explicit condemnation of Turkey’s behavior.
Ankara also knows that at the NATO Summit, will be the red cloth for many from the allies of the alliance, as in addition to their annoyance for the crime against Greece, it will meet the discomfort of the allies for the oriental bazaars and the obstacles it puts to the accession of Finland and Sweden in the alliance.
In fact, apart from these two key meetings, the EU and NATO, the Greek Prime Ministerbefore the Summit of 27 Leaders, will have on June 22 meeting in Rome with the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Greece and Italy to coordinate their movements, in view of the European Council, while the diplomatic marathon of the Greek government and Kyriakos Mitsotakis will continue in Strasbourgwhere, on July 5, then at the invitation of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, will address the body. A presence that causes concern in Ankara, as it inevitably evokes memories of the speech of the Greek Prime Minister in the US Congress and the impact it had.
The slap of the Europeans
The climate of concern of the Turkish leadership intensifies even more the embankment that is raised more and more intensely, the partners of Greece as after the “German slap” for its delinquent behavior, it received a new slap from the Commission this time, with its representative Peter Stano to send a clear message to Ankara to stop the threats otherwise photographed new sanctions.
“Turkey must stop all threats and actions that harm good neighborly relations and respect the sovereignty of all EU Member States in their territorial waters and airspace,” said the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs. the RES on the continuation of the challenges on the part of Ankara.
At the same time, Mr. Stano noted that “any open issue should be dealt with peacefully, through dialogue, good faith, with full respect for international law and in accordance with the principle of good neighborly relations.” The Commissioner also added that “in terms of relations between the EU and the EU Member States with Turkey, the EU was and is very clear: We expect Turkey to be constructive, to refrain from escalating steps, rhetoric or actions and to commit to building good neighborly relations and not the other way around “.
“Otherwise, the EU and its Member States would have to consider an appropriate response. This was clearly stated twice last year by European leaders, and that remains our position to this day.”
“The EU has been very clear in many cases that we are willing and ready to commit to Turkey – gradually, proportionately and reversibly to strengthen co-operation in various areas of common interest, under certain conditions,” Mr Stano said. that Ankara should “commit to de-escalation and de-escalation must be maintained”.
Crack from Akar
All this escalating pressure of Greece’s partners against Turkey, the last two twenty-four hours opened a “crack” of optimism for some form of decompression of tension, after the warm handshake of Greek Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos by Turkish counterpart of Hulusi Akar in Brussels, on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers’ Summit.
Yesterday’s statements of Akar to SKAI and Manolis Kostidis, that is ready to meet with Nikos Panagiotopoulos were confirmed and in the short quartet the Ministers of Defense of Greece and Turkey had the opportunity to exchange the first conversations between officials of the two countries. Although of course the body language betrayed an obvious embarrassment and perhaps an electrifying atmosphere, the four ended with smiles in front of the camera, which awakens in some the hope of a possible reactivation of the communication channels between Greece and Turkey.
Nikos Panayotopoulos, however, did not miss the opportunity to get into the essence of the controversy that has arisen after the aggressive rhetoric and the provocations of Ankara and according to information, he allegedly told Hulusi Akar, that in order to take steps forward, the tension should stop, Turkey’s violations and verbal attacks. “We can not go like this,” Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos reportedly told his Turkish counterpart. According to Greek sources, however, Hulusi Akar heard the remarks but did not appear to have commented.
Tsavousoglou’s coffee
More embarrassing and short, just a few seconds, was E.’s meetingForeign Minister Nikos Dendias with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt ÇavuÅŸoλουluwho shook hands on the sidelines of the “Prespa Dialogue Forum 2022”, taking place in Ohrid.
In fact, their short conversation was of a social nature, around the cafe drunk by the Turkish Foreign Minister.
The question in any case is whether Turkey’s tactics seek to operate as a fire brigade alone, in view of the key EU-NATO summits, or whether it is prepared to give the country itself a chance to try to reconnect with the West.
