To stay in power, Erdogan will not only tolerate his partner’s nationalist extremes, but if necessary he will follow them himself.
By Penelope Galliou
With attention, determination and in absolute readiness, the Greek side monitors its comeback Turkey in the provocative paroxysm, after the new delirium of the government partner of Tayyip Erdogan Devlet Bakhceliwho was photographed with a map given to him by the “grey wolves” and depicts half of the Aegean and Crete as belonging to Turkey!
A new nationalist show which Athens did not leave unanswered and condemned, with diplomatic sources to point out that “the public posting of a map by senior officials of the party that is a government partner in Turkey, which depicts Greek territory as Turkish, is a particularly aggressive and provocative action and is absolutely condemnable”. They even pointed out that “unfortunately, it is part of the escalation of extreme rhetoric from Turkey that we witness on a daily basis. We expect the immediate categorical and public disapproval of this unacceptable act of questioning the territorial sovereignty of our country”.
Athens also estimates that while Turkey is going through its long pre-election period, until the 2023 elections and the Erdogan government sinks into its impasses, nationalist outbursts will intensify as they constitute an “expensive” argument in order to boost the national sentiment of their voters and a pre-electoral tool in the battle to maintain power.
After all, Devlet Bakhceli, who is one amalgam of nationalists and Nazis in Turkey, he is Erdoğan’s partner and in order to save their governing coalition, the Turkish president will not only tolerate the nationalist extremes and absurdities of his partner, but – as he has shown recently – if necessary he will follow them himself , in order to stay in power.
Under these circumstances, Greece insists on the path of International Law and international legitimacy, internationalizing at the same time, when and where necessary, the Turkish provocation, announcing, as a government source commented, that “we are vigilant, but we are not afraid and we remain calm and determined”. Besides, Athens has not stopped for a minute to monitor, weigh and evaluate the Turkish provocation, as it manifests itself every time and to act accordingly, emphasizing the same source that “we are monitoring the developments and we are prepared, better than ever, to manage the Turkish aggression in total.
The reaction of the opposition
Extremely illegal and unhistorical characterized the new challenge Bakhtseli and the head of foreign affairs of SYRIZA George Katrougalos noting that “against this and any escalation, the government must set clear red lines and ensure tangible, not lukewarm, support from our allies. No return in 2020”.
The new attack by Erdoğan’s government partner, Bahtceli, and the president of PASOK-KINAL also described it as offensive and offensive. Nikos Androulakis speaking of an “extreme provocation that requires immediate international condemnation”. He estimated that with their extreme actions “They are educating the Turkish public opinion in extreme nationalism, intolerance and direct questioning of Greek sovereignty. They undermine good neighborly relations and consider international law to be a piece of paper.
Our territorial integrity and national sovereignty are indisputable. It is now evident that the policy of appeasement and equidistance nurtures and does not repel Turkish revisionism.
A European deterrence policy is needed. With the arms embargo on the frontline both from European states and from the USA”.
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