turkey

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Elections in Turkey: the choice between democracy and dictatorship

An interview on the social and political dynamics in Turkey ahead of the May 14th election

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Editorial Ta Nea: Political canvas

Stagnancy simply entrenches the island’s de facto division and further alienates the Turkish Cypriot side, obviously with the responsibility of Ankara.

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Ask the Right Questions to get the Right Answers

One hundred years ago the guns of war fell silent on Turkish soil. May their menacing thunder never be heard again.

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ND deputy parliament speaker says Muslim MPs could be surveilled for national security reasons

Athanasiou, in a supposedly hypothetical example, said Muslim MPs in Greece’s Parliament could have their phones tapped on suspicion of espionage on Turkey’s behalf.

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Editorial Ta Nea: The message

Erdogan believes that the leaders of Sweden and Finland can “commit themselves” to extradite Kurdish and Turkish expats granted asylum whom he accuses of terrorism.

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Greece, Turkey declare their satisfaction with results of NATO summit

Erdogan clearly indicated that he got what he wanted from the deal regarding Sweden and Finland, and that declared he would leave the summit with his 'hands full'.

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Editorial Ta Nea: A crucial NATO summit

if Turkey attempts to rock the boat, that will reveal NATO’s limits, endurance, power, and the extent it will tolerate Ankara’s linkage of NATO’s expansion to its own revisionism.

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Dendias: Greece has a strong and convincing case under international law, unlike Turkey

Turkey should be made to understand that the “gunboat diplomacy” of past eras has no place in the 21st century, Mr. Dendias noted.

Κόσμος

Αλλάζει όνομα η Τουρκία για να αποφεύγει τις... παρεξηγήσεις

Η Τουρκία επιθυμεί να μετονομαστεί το αγγλικό της όνομα να είναι Türkiye, αντί για Turkey.

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Cavusoglu: ‘NATO countries want the war in Ukraine to continue’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that the Ukrainians continually “renege” on points about which the two sides had agreed.

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Russian envoy summoned to foreign ministry after 10 ethnic Greeks killed in Russian bombings

Russian ambassador to Athens Andrey Maslov has been summoned to the Greek foreign ministry tomorrow after the killing of six ethnic Greeks and the injury of six more in Russian bombings in Eastern Ukraine.

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Op-Ed: What the US State Department non-paper means

Big energy giants that were conducting research in the region in question began to pull out. Just last week, a consortium comprised of Total, ExxonMobil, and Hellenic Petroleum decided to freeze seismic research to the south and west of Crete.

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Editorial Ta Nea: Fluidity

The change in America’s intentions and priorities should come as no surprise. It confirms that despite some doubling back by Washington, geopolitical developments in our neighbourhood remain exceptionally fluid.

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Mitsotakis-Putin talks: Energy, Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus problem top agenda

Putin and Mitsotakis are to adopt a 2022-2024 joint action plan which, according to Greek government sources, will determine the basic axes of bilateral cooperation over the coming years.

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Mitsotakis: Greece-Israel relations better than ever

'Our countries are cooperating in air. With our energy projects, our countries are cooperating at sea. Today, I think we can also say that we’re cooperating on the ground,' said the Israeli PM.

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Ερντογάν: Εθνικοποιεί... την ετικέτα Made in Turkey

Με την έλευση της καινοτομίας, οι αγγλόφωνοι καταναλωτές τουρκικών προϊόντων δεν θα μπερδεύουν πλέον το «Turkey» με τη «γαλοπούλα», γράφουν, διασκεδάζοντας την απόφαση Ερντογάν, οικονομικές ιστοσελίδες.

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Mitsotakis, Johnson discuss deepening of Greece-UK ties, Cyprus, Turkey, and Parthenon Marbles

'You must understand what the Parthenon Marbles mean to us. They are our pride. They are our sacrifices. They are the supreme symbol of nobility,' Melina Mercouri once told British authorities.

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Pompeo says he was concerned over possible Greek-Turkish military ‘accident’ in Aegean

Pompeo said he is enthusiastic about the recent US-Greece Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement and that Turkey is undermining security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Exclusive interview with FM Nikos Dendias: ‘The US recognises Greece’s strategic position’

Dendias touted the fact that even as the US adjusts its international presence it chose to remain in Greece, and he delicately confirmed that the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) has been renewed for five years and that thereafter it will be in effect indefinitely.

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Menendez: US, EU must stand by Cyprus in confronting Turkey’s EastMed provocations in Cyprus’ EEZ

'Turkey is once again undermining stability in the Eastern Med, this time by violating the Republic of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The US must stand with Cyprus, and the EU should also fully support the vital interests of one of its member states,' Menendez tweeted today.

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Turkey pushes the envelope in the Eastern Mediterranean sending warships to Cyprus’ EEZ

The unsettling situation in the Eastern Mediterranean overshadowed yesterday’s Greek-Turkish exploratory talks in Ankara and further dashed hopes of reaching points of convergence on various critical issues.

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Anastasiades tells UN General Assembly he is ready for resumption of Cyprus talks

Anastasiades stressed the Greek Cypriots’ want to share the wealth from gas deposits with the Turkish Cypriots and if Ankara recognises the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia would disburse funds to the Turkish Cypriot side even before a final settlement.

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Defying Turkish threats, Athens is determined to ply forward with research of Nautical Geo in Mediterranean

Ankara bases its objections on a 2019 MOU between Turkey and Libya (the government in Tripoli) on the delimitation of the two countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones, although they are not contiguous.

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Turkish Cypriot declares Turkey is the rightful owner of all of Cyprus

'If there is peace in Cyprus today, it is due to the presence of the Turkish armed forces. Otherwise, the bloodshed would have continued,' Tatar said, reiterating Ankara’s pretext for the 1974 invasion,

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Deciphering the chaos in Afghanistan

First of all, the permanent, age-old civil war in Afghanistan has not ended. Tribal leaders, generals, and warlords of the old regime are negotiating among themselves and with the Taliban – which itself is not a unified force – and no one can prejudge the results.

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Greece, Cyprus seek coordinated strategy for confronting Turkey after partial opening of occupied Varosha

The talks were held one week after Erdogan’s declaration in occupied Cyprus that he will open about three percent of the Turkish-occupied ghost city of Varosha in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell: Condemnation without consequences in statement on Erdogan’s opening of Varosha

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.

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Editorial To Vima: The other road for the Cyprus problem

Hellenism must pursue the broadest possible international mobilisation. It must seek greater EU involvement. It must utilise to the greatest possible extent US pressure on Turkey, and of course it must come up with new positions and proposals.

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Editorial: Drawing boundaries

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.

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Cyprus settlement efforts at a critical juncture

We must rise to the occasion and undertake persuasive initiatives. Essentially, we must choose between a solution that establishes a federation and the permanent partition of Cyprus.

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Revisiting Greece-North Macedonia relations

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.

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Editorial To Vima: Greece in the post-pandemic world

To grab the opportunity Athens must bolster its economic, diplomatic, and defence forces in this extraordinary post-pandemic world. We are lacking in the economy, but we have an opportunity on the diplomatic chessboard.

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In historic move Biden recognises Armenian Genocide

"Over the decades Armenian immigrants have enriched the United States in countless ways, but they have never forgotten the tragic history ... We honor their story. We see that pain. We affirm the history.' Biden said.

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Editorial Ta Nea: The plea

We must work to create a world in which no human being is forced to leave his or her home. Until then we must remember that seeking asylum is not a lawless act. It is a right.

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After years of wrangling Greece, Albania to refer EEZ delimitation to International Court of Justice

'This agreement is based on the consistent adherence by both countries to international law and the principle of resolving differences peacefully,' said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

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Biden to Trump: Press Turkey to halt provocations against Greece

'The Trump administration must press Turkey to refrain from any further provocative actions in the region against Greece, including threats of force, to create the space for diplomacy to succeed,” Biden said.

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Stoltenberg, Mitsotakis push talks based on firm Turkish commitment to de-escalation with Greece

'It is my firm hope that the underlying disputes between two allies can now be addressed purely though negotiations in the spirit of allied solidarity and international law,” Nato's chief said.

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European Commission welcomes Ankara’s move to pull drilling ship out of Cyprus’ EEZ

A Commission, spokesman said that, 'The departure constitutes another welcome step towards de-escalation ... and we hope for similar and further moves in this direction.'

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Greece, Cyprus push hard at EU summit for tougher stance against Turkey

German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposed harsher language against Turkey, presumably in order to facilitate Germany's role as mediator between Turkey and Greece.

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Pompeo’s visit to Greece underlines US role in Eastern Mediterranean, bolsters bilateral ties

In a break with US diplomatic custom that if a Secretary of State visits Greece he or she will also visit Turkey and vice versa, Pompeo decided to visit only Greece, a move viewed as a stern message to Ankara,

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Editorial Ta Nea: A new EU vitality

European Commission apresident Von der Leyen said that on both the Greek-Turkish and migration issues Greece and Cyprus can count on the EU’s absolute solidarity.

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European Council President Michel, Mitsotakis agree on firm stance toward Turkey

'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

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Editorial To Vima: Europe is not just France

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.

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Pompeo calls for Greek-Turkish dialogue after withdrawal of their forces from Eastern Mediterranean

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has repeatedly declared that dialogue is inconceivable before Turkey withdraws its forces from the area. He clearly ruled out the concept of diplomacy at gunpoint.

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Led by France, Euro-Mediterranean MED7 Conference slams Turkey, supports Greece, Cyprus

In addition MED7 leaders urged Greece and Turkey to dialogue. The seven leaders led by Emmanuel Macron are not prepared to accept Turkish hegemony in the Mediterranean.

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Editorial To Vima: Time is on Greece’s side

In any event the intensity and frequency of Turkish Aegean and Southeastern Mediterranean violations are annoying more and more international players.

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Editorial To Vima: The March scenario

Greece and governments all over the world hope that the vaccine will help manage the public health crisis and permit a gradual normalisation of social and economic life.

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With spectre of Greek-Turkish EastMed clash looming, Stoltenberg scampers to resolve conflict

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters the Western alliance was considering so-called deconfliction measures to prevent naval accidents in an increasingly congested region, although he did not go into details.

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Editorial To Vima: When will Europe react?

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

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 Hagia Sophia, Turkey, Russia and the West

It is Mr. Erdogan’s commercial and military strategic alliance with Russia through which the Turkish leader has heaped scorn and contempt on Washington and NATO.

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Editorial To Vima: An EU-Turkey affair

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.

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Editorial To Vima: Stirring the water

It has become clear all these years that Greece’s decision not to fully exercise its rights under international law has to this day failed to limit Turkey’s provocations.

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Editorial To Vima: Erdogan’s conceit

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.

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Dendias calls for European resolve in answering Ankara’s geopolitical, economic blackmail

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.

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Mitsotakis courts investors in Berlin, holds talks on migration crisis, Turkey with Merkel

'In the last 10 days we have shown that we can defend our national and European sovereignty. Greece and Europe cannot be blackmailed by anyone,' the PM told the German-Hellenic Economic Forum.

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Erdogan wants funding, geopolitical backing to keep migrants out of EU

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.

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Despondent migrants in geopolitical limbo at Turkish-Greek border blame Erdogan

“Why did he (Erdogan) do this to us if he knew Greece won’t let us cross?” she asked, sitting on a rug near a pile of bags full of clothes and diapers for her sons, aged 13 and 7.

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Editorial To Vima: Solidarity requires deeds

Officials in Brussels are reportedly enraged with Erdogan’s behaviour as Reuters reports but they realise that they are essentially being held hostage and they are considering offering new funding to Ankara, effectively caving in to his blackmail.

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Top EU officials express solidarity with Greece in guarding EU borders, pledge 700mn euro in aid

'We have just been to the border area and have seen how tense and how difficult the situation is. The Greek authorities are facing a very difficult task in containing the situation and I want to thank the Greek border guards, the coast guards, the civilians, the police, the servicemen and servicewomen, and Frontex for their tireless effort, said Ursula von der Leyen.

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Ankara ups the ante in dispute with Russia in Syroa

Russia supports Assad and accused Turkey of flouting agreements it made with Moscow, aggravating the situation in Idlib, and failing to neutralise militants there,

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EU foreign policy chief blasts Turkey on behalf of Commission

In direct opposition to the UN Convention Ankara has steadfastly maintained that islands have no EEZ, a position that was rejected by the US, France, and the entire EU among others.

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Editorial To Vima: Greece-France alliance

The strategy of pursuing closer ties with France was vindicated in 1979 when French president Valerie Giscard D’Estaing passionately supported Greece’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC)

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Editorial To Vima: Triple message of support from Paris

The French president’s remarks at a joint press conference with PM Mitsotakis are to date the clearest and most emphatic message of support of Greece’s sovereign rights.

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Greece, France firm up defence, energy coperation amidst Turkish threats

Though strong international players such as the US and the EU have criticised the MOU it is clear that only France has begun to offer palpable backing at sea in the Mediterranean.

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Greece continues diplomatic blitz to annul Libya-Turkey EEZ accord

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.

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Editorial To Vima: National vigilance

Turkey’s untrammeled audacity and enormous provocations have led to not unfounded suspicions that Ankara is getting ready for extremely bellicose acts against Greece.

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Editorial To Vima: An era of indeterminacy and uncertainty

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.

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Editorial Ta Nea: Realism

Our country must be present with the diplomatic vigour that its geopolitical place demands and with a clear conception of its size and role.

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Pence, Pompeo eye Greek-American supporters in election year, praise Mitsotakis’ policies

In a rare diplomatic move Vice-President President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosted a reception for the Greek prime minister which naturally was attended by Greek-American leaders and wealthy potential donors.

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Trump gives thumbs up on Greek economy, silent on Turkish threats at talks with Mitsotakis

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.

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Mitsotakis to meet Trump amidst Turkish provocations in Mediterranean, Aegean, Libya

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.

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Editorial Ta Nea: Message of peace

No one can ignore the fact that a new energy map in which Greece will have a leading role is being drawn up.

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Editorial To Vima: A pipeline of opportunities and challenges

By opening a corridor for the procurement of gas EastMed is expected to contribute decisively to safeguarding the energy sufficiency and security of EU member-states.