aegean

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.

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.

The leader of Turkey loses no opportunity to display his aggressiveness. Yesterday he spoke about grey zones in the Aegean (Greek islands whose sovereignty Ankara disputes) and accused Greece and its allies of trying to block Turkey’s access to the sea. He announced that he will bolster Ankara’s military support for the government of Libya. Athens responds to this intransigence with the Agreement of the Four in which it is joined by Israel, Egypt, and Cyprus for the construction of the EastMed pipeline. Greece is also taking initiatives in the Middle East such as the foreign minister’s trip to Libya and Egypt yesterday. Along with these moves the government must not forget that Turkey will remain our neighbour. Hence, channels of communication must remain open not in order to make bilateral agreements on issues (mainly of sovereignty) that divide the countries and which Athens has always considered non-negotiable, but rather to make it possible for Greece and Turkey to eventually go to the International Court of Justice to resolve issues that the two sides have agreed to in advance. There are many obstacles in such a course. The Greek political class fears the political cost that reviving this issue will have. The Turkish political class, which theoretically does not rule out such an eventuality in fact places so many preconditions that make such a solution prohibitive. That does not mean that diplomacy must resign itself to the current situation and problems. A military clash would be disastrous for both countries. Greece is also taking initiatives in the Middle East such as the foreign minister’s trip to Libya and Egypt yesterday.

 Setting aside Ankara’s bellicose behaviour and territorial claims in Cyprus’ maritime zone and the Aegean, Akar maintained that Turkey supports 'good neighbourly relations, international law and mutual respect'.

The US, Russia, France, Cyprus, Israel, and most recently Italy have all underlined that the Turkey-Libya MOU is a serious threat to regional stabilit,

The dialogue with Turkey must continue even if the positions of the Greek side are of those of one crying in the wilderness.

Τη στρατηγική τους συνεργασία για την επένδυση στο Ελληνικό ανακοίνωσαν οι δύο εταιρείες.

Αγωγή 300 εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων κατατέθηκε σε αμερικανικό δικαστήριο σε βάρος τεσσάρων πρώην στελεχών της AegeanMarine Petroleum Network Inc. Κατηγορούνται ότι με τις ενέργειές τους επέτρεψαν στο Δημήτρη Μελισσανίδη να ζημιώσει την εταιρεία

Λευτέρης Θ. Χαραλαμπόπουλος

The numbers are truly amazing and unique globally if one considers the number of lives that were lost over the Aegean over the past decades in an undeclared war.

Οριστικοποιήθηκαν οι ώρες και οι μέρες των δύο τουρνουά προετοιμασίας για το Παγκόσμιο της Κίνας που θα γίνουν στην Ελλάδα και στα οποία θα συμμετάσχει η Εθνική μας

The Greek readout indicated that both leaders agreed on the need to deepen exceptionally good bilateral relations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first foreign leader to call and congratulate Mitsotakis, even before the final results were in.

'Greece is a sovereign country that is in a position to defend its sovereign rights. There is no scenario under which a [Turkish drilling ship] will drill in the Greek continental shelf because that will be blocked.'

The June 20-21 summit called on the European Commission and the EEAS to table “without delay” proposed 'targeted measures' against Turkey over its illegal drilling for hydrocarbons in Cyprus' EEZ.

The US Ambassador said the US, EU 'share a perspective on developments in the waters off of Cyprus... and in avoiding any further provocative actions by Turkey'.

In a lengthy statement, the Defence Department clearly articulated US interests and power in the region and the crucial nature of the US-Greece military alliance.

Turkey may consider that this period is opportune for it to impose its views on the delimitation of Greece’s territorial waters and continental shelf.

The activity of the Turkish marine seismographic survey ship “Barbaros” in Cyprus' EEZ shows that Ankara will yet again use provocations to achieve its goals.

The S-400s radars have a range of up to 570—600kms. They can detect bombers at a distance of 570kms and F-16 Fighters with a 400km range.

'Despite our good will we shall do whatever is necessary to defend our rights and just positions and we shall respond,' Akar, the former chairman of Turkey’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

Erdogan constantly cultivates the sense of a quest for lost Ottoman grandeur and at the same time he disputes Turkey’s traditional ties with the West.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Press Agency cited unnamed sources which denied that the incident occurred and that the Turkish pilots were just doing their job.

Foreign diplomats – including US Ambassador Pyatt - have expressed concerns over a military “accident” due to the large concentration of firepower, heightened tensions in the region.

A dour-faced PM explained that he could not extradite eight Turkish officers Erdogan wants because the Greek judiciary ruled against their extradition.

Apostolakis warned that Greece and the region are at a critical geopolitical juncture that requires constant, heightened vigilance.