Within the UK, one already hears more loudly the voices of those who demand a thorough audit of the finances of the Windsors and a reduction of the amount of the Sovereign Grant.
In terms of efforts to commit Turkey to a specific framework for dialogue, it is mandatory that we not squander opportunities when they arise.
The numbers demonstrate that the Italian political crisis could destabilise the entire eurozone at an exceptionally critical moment, with many open fronts.
'We encourage our NATO Allies, including Greece and Turkey, to work together to maintain peace and security in the region and resolve differences diplomatically.'
This war will define the new geopolitical architecture of Europe. Through the drama of Ukraine and the trials and tribulations of its people, the West is being put to the test.
The US is leading the entire effort in Ukraine, but the Americans are 5,000 miles from the theatre of military operations, and the Europeans will necessarily face most of the consequences of the war.
The Russian president must understand that the cost of trampling over treaties and international law is greater than the benefits yielded by the conquest of territory or the destruction of a country
In a line from the French presidential debate that will be long remembered, about Marine Lepen taking out a loan from a Russian bank, Macron said that when she speaks to Russia, she speaks to her banker.
Poland is now grappling with over two million refugees (1.7mn Ukrainian citizens) that have crossed from Ukraine to Poland since the 24 February Russian invasion, and is expecting prompt EU assistance.
The responsibility for dealing with the current economic situation is not only Greek, but also EU-wide, as during the years of the pandemic the Union appeared to comprehend that harsh fiscal rules are not always a prescription for success.
EU cohesions depends on the protection of the Union’s citizens. The need to find ways to de-link geopolitical fluidity from the welfare of citizens in their daily lives is a major challenge for the European family.
The EU’s determination to vastly reduce and ultimately eliminate dependency on Russian gas and oil is part of the broader framework of its aim of becoming a green superpower.
The EU’s determination to vastly reduce and ultimately eliminate its dependence on Russian gas and oil is part of the broader framework of its aim of becoming a green superpower.
Sergey Lavrov's message to the international community was that Russia will not tolerate an eastern expansion of NATO or the deployment of nuclear weapons near its borders, and that it will not be told how to defend its security.
Greece must be exceedingly careful. It must not sever lines of communication and should play an important role in the effort to establish peace and stability.
Greece, utilising its historic ties with Russia and given its role as a state at the core of the Western camp, can be one of the countries that contribute to stability.
Greece must now ask itself, under new conditions, what made it strong after the 1974 post-junta regime change, and what can make it even stronger today. In any event, it is not the relationship with the US, as important as it may be.
What happens in the immediate future is of exceptional importance in the development of the Ukrainian crisis, as every party is weighing its moves and is gauging how much room there is to avert a prospective major energy crisis.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo asks Athens to play a mediating role in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue, while emphasisng her country’s Western orientation.
Greece is a peaceful Western country, but without being pliant and complaisant. Through deterrence and decisiveness it sends the analogous signals. Through constant diplomatic pressure, it reminds one that Greece’s borders are the EU’s borders.
Turkey is already a quasi-regional power, despite it great economic problems. It aims to become something more – perhaps a hegemonic power in the regional system and beyond, and naturally it provokes Greece’s righteous indignation.
At a time when a series of issues remain open, Greece and Russia have a certain osmosis that will continue with cooperation and communication.
It remains to be seen what will be the policy of the new German government, after the departure of Angela Merkel and the appointment of the Green party’s Annalena Baerbock as the country’s foreign minister.
'With Spain, Germany, and other countries involved in arms deals with Turkey, it would be difficult for Ankara to be described as a 'threat'. It is oxymoronic to arm a country that threatens us.' The view of Brussels is that, “Europe is stronger when Turkey is with it rather than against it.”
The EU has warned Putin that there will be sanctions if he again violates the territorial integrity of another country, but it could have prevented the fire instead of having to put it out.
The Franco-German axis is de facto strengthened as long as Italian PM Mario Draghi, who had described Weidmann as “Nein zu allem” (No on everything), remains in power.
France, as President of the UN Security Council at the time, issued a presidential statement on 23 July, 2021, condemning Turkey’s stated intention as a glaring violation of UNSC resolutions on Varosha and called for an “immediate reversal” of the decision.
Germany will not be able to effectively put the brakes on reforms being pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron and at the same time it will not be able to exert a drastic influence on the frugal countries of the European North.
EU summits over the last year have consistently postponed imposing sanctions against Turkey over its violations of international law in Cyprus’ EEZ, the Aegean, and the Eastern Mediterranean, ostensibly in an effort normalise Greek-Turkish relations.
'Kosova seeks to resolve outstanding issues with the neighbors through dialogue. We will only be able to fix the relations in the Balkans with a principled and well-prepared dialogue, founded on European values.'
Some analysts believe Erdogan’s maximalist position in support of a two-state solution is designed to achieve a loose confederation, (effectively Ankara’s position in prior settlement talks), definitively abandoning the UN's bi-zonal federation framework.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strategic decision to visit occupied Cyprus on the anniversary and re-open part of the ghost city of Varosha constitutes a sharp escalation and provocation on Ankara’s part.
It is obliged to point out omissions and delays in implementation and to stress the need to expedite the work of the committee on changes to school books – not to hide behind artful ruses.
China is losing no time in exploiting this situation in order to further increase its commercial power. It is already contributing to shaping the largest global free-trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
The leadership change in the US and the fluid situation in the Southeastern Mediterranean aggravated the problems posed by Erdogan and that creates the prospect of our country falling into a trap.
It was the 61st round of such talks, which commenced in 2002, when George Papandreou was foreign minister, and were abruptly terminated in 2016 after an abortive coup against Erdogan
Though both sides have long declared publicly that they wish to resume talks, their views on the agenda and limits of such a dialogue are diametrically opposed.
The United States ordered 600 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot in July, while the EU waited until November to place an order half that size.
The ECB decided to hike the pandemic QE by 500mn euros and approved a nine-month extension of the programme through March, 2022.
The United States, Italy and Spain were the top exporters of arms to Turkey from 2015-2019, according the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Political initiatives are needed to ensure solidarity with vulnerable groups and the poor, to guarantee the endurance of the health system, and to check the epidemic's spread.
The prospect of a vaccine electrified world markets with the S&P 500 and Dow hitting record highs. JPMorgan said it expected the S&P 500 index to hit 4,000 points by early 2021.
As many times as one may shout Allahu Akbar before a cold-blooded murder in Europe they will never be able to win the jihad that they have declared.
Each time Erdoagn pushed the envelope a bit further because he knew that although Greece was complaining strongly the EU would not significantly change its posture.
Turkish militarism was entrenched after the revolution of the Young Turks. Earlier, the Germans, who traditionally supported the Turks, played a significant role in creating Turkish nationalism.
To justify his military intervention on many fronts Erdogan says that he is is guided by the Ottoman past, but he is in fact reviving the catastrophic, expansionist Nazi theory of lebensraum.
Recently Turkey’s interlocutors and allies have sent Ankara strongly critical signals such as having top officials visiting the region without going to Turkey.
In light of Turkey’s erratic and dangerous policies and the policy of appeasement on the part of strong powers there is no room for complacency.
Paradoxically the fire that destroyed the Moria camp not only highlighted the conditions on the islands where refugees and migrants reside but it also offered Greece a great opportunity.
'Very useful exchange with President Erdogan on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and on migration. I welcome the planned launch of talks with Greece, which are essential for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,' said Von der Leyen.
From the start Greece has stressed the need for all parties to abide by international law and to that end launched an international diplomatic blitz.
'We have the issue of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean which is not the affair of Greece and Cyprus alone but an EU issue,' Michel said
Only France is stepping forward to staunchly and with clear judgment support Greece’s just positions. Other EU countries, however, are not doing their part as their interests have led them to adopt a neutral stance.
At times indifferent, at other times weak, and at other times hiding behind the refusal of local societies to bear their portion of the burden, the competent officials had buried their heads in the sand with the hope that the problem would gradually disappear.
With Greek-Turkish tensions and the pandemic crisis having put the entire country on red alert suddenly the refugee issue exploded.
Before the decision to turn the museum of the Christian Basilica of Hagia Sophia into a mosque and yesterday’s NAVTEX (a navigational warning), since May, 2019, there were a series of provocative actions by Turkey
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stern message to Turkey criticising its activity in Libya but other EU states are not on board and there is no solid EU front against Turkey.
The High Court delivered its decision just as the next and largest ECB bond-buying programme to address the problems borne of the coronavirus crisis is being launched.
Europe now has an ideal opportunity to act decisively and thus ensure its long-term prospects as a cohesive and useful supra-national structure that ensures the well-being of the peoples of the Union.
Much like her predecessor Mario Draghi, ECB chief Christine Lagarde has declared she will do anything necessary to shore up the eurozone and temper the economic shock of the pandemic.
It is not easy at difficult moments to be magnanimous. Yet it is at such times that generosity characterises great leadership, as did the perceptiveness and moral leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel during the refugee crisis of 2015.
The wealthy states of Northern Europe and especially Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland continue to stubbornly refuse to adopt bold economic measures in the midst of a deadly pandemic.
The current unprecedented crisis constitutes a major temptation for authoritarian rulers everywhere to usurp more power.
The Turkish leadership went as far as to liken the situation at the border to the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust. This disrespected the memory of the millions brutally murdered by the Nazis.
It would be disastrous to leave the economy to its own devices as many governments in Europe realise though there are glaring and unfortunate exceptions, which have made the situation even more difficult.
Greece and the enitire EU responded effectively when migrants and refugees in Evros were exploited by Ankara as a tool of blackmail to achieve objectives that were anything but humanitarian.
If the emergency measures had not been taken the number of cases would have risen tenfold and it could easily have spun out of control MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Constantinos Daskalakis told Mega television.
It is in no one’s interest for the economy to shrink again due to recessionary policies and policies that will not facilitate an extremely swift remedy of the major additional wounds that it will suffer from the virus.
A Greek crew member is heard on the video shouting, 'They have broken our rails. [Record] everything on video.' Another crew member said, “They are in our waters and hit us from behind. It has caused damage.”
Erdogan can do anything in the darkness that surrounds him but that is also his Achilles’ heel – the prospect of being destroyed by his megalomaniacal nature and abuse of the tools he believes he has at his disposal.
The Greek government displayed quick reflexes from the beginning of the crisis when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to open his side of the Greek-Turkish border.
From that perspective, Germany has an historic obligation to lead Europe to abandon the role of passive observer as regards Syria and make it an active player.
One senior EU diplomat said the EU had squandered the time since the 2016 deal, brushing the problem under the carpet by paying for refugees and migrants to be kept in Turkey.
Διαχειριστής - Διευθυντής: Λευτέρης Θ. Χαραλαμπόπουλος
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