By Penelope Galliou
With his eyes fixed on Prime Minister’s trip to Washington and his meeting with him President of the United States on May 16the government, prioritizes the issues of the agenda that will be put on the oval table, “raising” the continuing and escalating Turkish provocation.
The tactics of Athens so far are reflected in the policy that leaves no “derailment” of Turkey unanswered and in fact is displayed and notified to each competent body and organization and is obviously expected to be emphatically put forward at its meeting Kyriakou Mitsotaki by Joe Biden but also during Speech by the Greek Prime Minister at the Congress on May 17.
The stance of the tension with which the problematic Greek-Turkish relations will be presented to the American political leadership was given by Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexandros Papaioannou referring to “an unprecedented increase in tension and provocative behavior on the part of Turkey”. He even referred in detail to the recent increase in tension on the part of Ankara, noting that it goes without saying that it will be put on during the trip of the Prime Minister in Washington and his contacts there on May 16 and 17 on the other side of the Atlantic.
As Mr. Papaioannou pointed out, within one day, last Wednesday we had 168 airspace violations and 42 overflights. There were overflights from above Greek territory and residential areas on several islands of the Eastern Aegean (Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, etc.).
“Numbers speak for themselves” He noted that this was a record, as the previous largest number of overflights of Turkish aircraft over Greek territory had taken place in 2020, when there was an escalation of Turkish delinquent behavior, and it was 23, about half.
“In this critical and difficult time for Europe and NATO, Turkey’s conduct runs counter to fundamental rules of international law, but also affects the cohesion of NATO.” The Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that this attitude is contrary to the climate of good neighborliness that Greece is trying to create and said that Greece is “always in favor of good relations with Turkey, based on international law.”
“Here we are talking about a clear violation of Greek sovereignty, which can not go unanswered and that is why two consecutive steps were taken within two days by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Turkish ambassador”he mentioned characteristically.
Notification of Turkey’s challenges
On the problem of Turkish provocation and delinquency o Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias it had several contacts with ambassadors in Athens and underlined the unacceptable attitude of the neighbor, while at the same time informed the UN, the EU and NATO and the dissatisfaction of Athens was conveyed on all sides. According to Mr. Papaioannou, the goal is to reduce the tension and that was the message that was conveyed to partners and allies. He stressed that Turkey’s behavior is “condemnable and unacceptable”, especially when it comes at a time when all the attention of the international community is focused on Ukraine.
Ankara’s annoyance
Athens’ diplomatic energy and readiness, however, intensifies Ankara’s frustration in conjunction with the Greek prime minister’s trip to Washington.
Characteristic of uncontrollable irritation was also the reaction of the Turkish embassy in Athens after his interview US Ambassador Jeffrey Payatwho referred to the Turkish provocation in the hot summer of 2020, talking about “ongoing and unacceptable activities in terms of overflights, rhetorical exaggerations, silly statements questioning the sovereignty of the islands, which from the American side is indisputable.”
Oil on the fire The United States’ attitude towards Turkey with its “delays” in supply 40
F-16 viper aircraft and the modernization of others 80 available in its fleet.
The highlight of all, of course, was the invitation from the American president to the Greek prime minister to visit the United States on May 16 but also the invitation from Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Mr. Mitsotakis to speak in Congress on Tuesday, May 17. In other words, in the legislature from which Erdogan is waiting for the approval for the supply of F-16s, while he has already been forced to forget the acquisition of the coveted F-35s.
A speech in which the Greek Prime Minister is expected to repeat what he said to the Secretary General of NATO, recently, protesting against the Turkish violations: That is Turkey’s behavior undermines NATO unity at a time when it is necessary for all its Member States to remain united.
These two invitations have sparked Ankara and his frustration Tayyip Erdogan who is still awaiting the coveted invitation to visit the White House, without any response, as well as the attempt to meet with the US President on the sidelines of the recent NATO emergency summit in Brussels was unsuccessful.
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