Two former Turkish ambassadors, basing their arguments on the treaties that have been signed, are protesting the legitimacy of the Turkish president’s claims about the demilitarization of the islands.
At the time that Tayyip Erdogan continues delirium and threats, major voices from Ankara clearly show their disagreement. Two former Turkish ambassadors, basing their arguments on the treaties that have been signed, are expressing objections to the legitimacy of the Turkish president’s claims about the demilitarization of the Aegean islands.
THE Yalim Eralp, who, among others, served as Turkey’s Ambassador to Greece, the United States, the United Nations and NATO, argued that Turkey was wrong in questioning the sovereignty of the islands.
YALIM HERALP: “The third issue is the tension with Greece. There are many claims to the sovereignty of these islands. There is no such thing. The islands are located at a distance of three miles from Greece. And Turkey has accepted it for years. Putting this into question now makes Turkey attacking state in diplomacy».
In fact, the Turkish diplomat deconstructs the Turkish theory of the gray zones that challenges the ownership in Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean.
We say, “They did not count this island in Lausanne, they did not count this island.” If I remember correctly, there are over 2,400 islands and islets in the Mediterranean. The treaty excludes all these islands. It has not been seen anywhere. “Lausanne gave the islands outside three miles to Greece, whether we like it or not.”
The Ambassador is in a similar line Selim Kuneralp, who served as director of European Affairs at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, argues that this tension is hurting Turkey, as Athens strengthens its diplomatic alliances around the world.
SELIM KUNERALP: “Based on the latest developments, the increase of tension with Greece favors this country, since the voices for restraint are addressed to Turkey and Greece has reaped the fruits of this crisis. We saw it in his speech Chancellor Schultz last week he supported the Greek positions “.
The Turkish media is attacking Turkish diplomats with ironic comments about the positions they are promoting.
