By Ahval
Turkey and Greece have never enjoyed perfect relations; however, the latest rate at which they are exchanging insults and threats creates cause for concern, according to Nikos Konstandaras.
In and article he wrote for the New York Times, Konstandaras, explains what the escalating conflict may get out of hand as the United States and the European Union, which seem the two most credible mediators between them, appear to have little leverage with Turkey.
Konstandaras recalls some of the recent developments taking place between Turkey and Greece:
‘’Ankara’s declaration that the Imia islets (Kardak in Turkish), a previous “gray area” in the Aegean Sea, are Turkish; a Turkish patrol boat ramming a Greek Coast Guard ship in the disputed area, which Greece considers its own; the military obstruction by Turkey of hydrocarbon exploration off the Republic of Cyprus; the prolonged detention of two Greek soldiers who strayed across the Turkish border on March 1, raising suspicions that Ankara might want to exchange them for eight alleged Turkish coup plotters, who were protected from extradition by Greek courts. Mr. Erdogan has persistently accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece of reneging on a promise to hand the eight back shortly after they fled to Greece in July 2016.’’
On March 11, responding to a comment by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos for Turkey to respect borders and international law, Erdogan said, “Those who want to refresh their memory should look at their recent history,” adding, “how they jumped into the sea to get away from here.”
Greece’s Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, on March 25, said, “We will crush whoever dares to question our national sovereignty ,” referring to Erdogan’s recent talk of a “great Turkey” following the success of Turkey’s ongoing military operation into Afrin, Syria.
“Turkey will never tolerate certain circles which violate our sovereignty in the Mediterranean and the Aegean,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim responded. “Those who play at being pirates in the Aegean should not forget Sept. 9, 1922,” he said.
With Erdogan not likely to back down in any confrontation with Greece and with European mediation sure to be ineffective, where are things going between the two countries?
Konstandaras notes that Ankara is defiant against Europe, ‘’keen to point out that it can control the flow of refugees and migrants, whose mass influx in 2015 shook politics in many European countries, suggesting that they may need Ankara’s good will more than it needs theirs.’’
The Greek government, however, according to Konstandaras, was forced to respond to Turkey’s positions and did not wish for conflict.
‘’Uncivil debate appears to be on the ascendant internationally, but the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean are particularly dangerous for such outbursts,’’ Konstandaras writes.
