Yayci is the originator of Ankara’s expansionist “Blue Motherland” theory, which claims large segments of Greece’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for Turkey.
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
In the pre-coronavirus period he unsuccessfully tried to open many fronts at once but did not achieve the victories that as self-styled sultan he very much desired.
Erdogan appeared unimpressed by what the EU was offering so far, saying the Union was always offering help but then falling short or not stepping up.
The foreign minister dismissed opposition criticism that the government has not been pro-active enough in dealing with Turkey.
The MOU expropriates a large chunk of Greece’s EEZ with the specious argument that islands such as Crete (which is much closer to Libya than any EU state or Turkey) have no EEZ.
Turkey’s untrammeled audacity and enormous provocations have led to not unfounded suspicions that Ankara is getting ready for extremely bellicose acts against Greece.
The head of the National Libyan Army has expressed his intense displeasure over Greece’s exclusion from the Berlin Conference.
Geopolitical constants have been lost, developments are being shaped elsewhere, and Greece for the time being cannot have the impact that it deserves and would want to have.
Our country must be present with the diplomatic vigour that its geopolitical place demands and with a clear conception of its size and role.
For Greece a presidential statement regarding Turkish violations of international law in the Southeast Mediterranean and the Aegean would have been welcome but there was no joint press conference after the talks.
The two leaders are expected to surely discuss the volatile situation created by Turkey in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, where US energy giant ExxonMobil has acquired drilling rights in Cyprus' EEZ.
In the face of Turkish provocations which are no longer limited to Greek-Turkish affairs, Greece has every reason to maintain the stance of a calm force.
Erdogan is standing by his pledge to provide military support to the government of Tripoli which is internationally recognised but controls only the capital.
'We must state clearly that if we cannot agree on the sole dispute that Greece recognises – delimitation of the continental shelf of the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean – that should be adjudicated by the International Court of Justice,' the PM said.
'We have repeatedly said how Russia sees the crisis in Libya. We want an immediate end to the conflict and an end to bloodshed in the country,' Peskov said.
Another move that puts a damper on Ankara’s designs is the planned signing on 2 January of an inter-state accord on the construction of the EastMed pipeline.
In an exclusive interview with To Vima the Turkish foreign minister does not tule out going to the Hague Court, supoprts the Treaty of Lausanne , sees prospect of Turkish drilling at the illegal and non-existent Turkey-Libya sea border.
'The Turkey-Libya MOUon the delimitation of maritime borders nfringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States,' EU leaders said.
The dialogue with Turkey must continue even if the positions of the Greek side are of those of one crying in the wilderness.
Διαχειριστής - Διευθυντής: Λευτέρης Θ. Χαραλαμπόπουλος
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