Dangerous Complacency at a Time When “Settlements” Are Being Advanced at the Expense of the Peoples
“The government’s attempt to focus attention on the Mitsotakis–Erdogan meeting around the so-called ‘positive agenda’ of economic and other agreements—namely, the business dealings of the major corporate groups of the two countries—cannot conceal the fact that, in practice, the unacceptable claims of the Turkish state remain in place, thus refuting the doctrine of ‘calm waters.’
The critical issues in Greek–Turkish relations—the casus belli, the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, the grey zones, and the references to a ‘Turkish minority’ in Western Thrace—undermine the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights and not only persist but are intensifying.
The complacency being cultivated is dangerous, while the so-called ‘road map’ does not concern the development of friendship between the two peoples, but rather the strengthening of NATO’s Southeastern Flank at a time when imperialist rivalries are sharpening and ‘settlements’ are being promoted at the expense of the peoples—policies that the Greek government supports in every way. It is telling, moreover, that Mr. Mitsotakis referred to cooperation with Turkey for the ‘reconstruction’ of Syria, when Turkey plays the role of an occupying power in that country.
Within the framework of these ‘settlements,’ bearing the stamp of the United States and the European Union, the government’s claim that it seeks ‘unmediated relations’ with the Turkish government is hypocritical. On the contrary, the ground is being prepared for joint exploitation in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, to the benefit of energy and other corporate groups.
Finally, it is provocative for Mr. Mitsotakis to boast about Greece–Turkey cooperation on migration just days after the criminal act against refugees and migrants in Chios, when that crime is precisely the result of this very ‘cooperation,’ based on EU policy.”
The critical issues in Greek–Turkish relations—the casus belli, the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, the grey zones, and the references to a ‘Turkish minority’ in Western Thrace—undermine the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights and not only persist but are intensifying.
The complacency being cultivated is dangerous, while the so-called ‘road map’ does not concern the development of friendship between the two peoples, but rather the strengthening of NATO’s Southeastern Flank at a time when imperialist rivalries are sharpening and ‘settlements’ are being promoted at the expense of the peoples—policies that the Greek government supports in every way. It is telling, moreover, that Mr. Mitsotakis referred to cooperation with Turkey for the ‘reconstruction’ of Syria, when Turkey plays the role of an occupying power in that country.
Within the framework of these ‘settlements,’ bearing the stamp of the United States and the European Union, the government’s claim that it seeks ‘unmediated relations’ with the Turkish government is hypocritical. On the contrary, the ground is being prepared for joint exploitation in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, to the benefit of energy and other corporate groups.
Finally, it is provocative for Mr. Mitsotakis to boast about Greece–Turkey cooperation on migration just days after the criminal act against refugees and migrants in Chios, when that crime is precisely the result of this very ‘cooperation,’ based on EU policy.”
