Igniting Recep Tayyip Erdogan
"[Greece] should not attempt to provoke Oruc Reis like it did two days ago or it will receive a response." "[The European Union should not give it] unconditional support." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
"[Any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a] high price. We said that if you attack our Oruc Reis you will pay a high price, and they got their first answer today." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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| The Turkish survey vessel Oruç Reis is pictured being escorted by Turkish Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean on 10 August. (Ministry of National Defense/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) |
The usual hyperbolic bluster and threats from Turkey's Erdogan. Who seems to feel his life's work is to antagonize the entire world community. Starting with Israel, the European Union, Greece, and above all, the hated Kurds. The Kurdish anguish over having been ignored and forgotten by the world oblivious to the fact that Kurds represent the largest ethnic population without a dedicated sovereign territory of their own, on their very own ancestral homeland, is profound. Despite promises by the powers of France and Britain at the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Kurds were left homeless.
What rightfully in full justice and humanitarian recognition of the wrongs done them, should be their ancient and recognized territory has been absorbed by Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Turkey's ongoing campaign to continue depriving the Kurds of the legitimacy of their sovereign territory is legendary in its vicious commitment. Greeks fare little better, traditional enmity between Turks and Greece is also legendary. But it is no legend that the Turkish empire enacted a genocide against the Armenians, one the world recognizes, but Turkey rails impotently against.
And although Erdogan accuses Israel of 'occupying' its own Biblical era and beyond heritage geography, victimizing Arabs who claim to be the original 'Palestinians', taking that designation now as their very own when in actual fact historically 'Palestinian' referred to another (Roman-given) name for Judea and Samaria, it is Turkey itself that illegally occupies half the geography of Cypress, as a result of its invasion of that historically Greek island.
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| French Tonnerre helicopter carrier, centre, escorted by Greek and French military vessels during a maritime exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean, August 13. (AP) |
Cypress, Greece and Israel have signed a cooperative agreement on gas extraction at the Tamar, Leviathan, and Aphrodite sites; discovered in 2009, 2010, and 2011 respectively, lawfully and peacefully. In stepped Turkey, declaring its right to drill in direct competition with the trio, defying any power to confront it, the possessor of the second largest military in NATO.
A week ago an encounter took place between a Greek and a Turkish warship with a mild collision during a standoff in the eastern Mediterranean where a Greek defence source identifies the event as an 'accident' and Turkey's Erdogan accounts it as a deliberate attack, typical of Erdogan's mad-dog approach to relations with those he loathes, in the belief that the entire world is his enemy. When in fact, he has placed the entire world on notice that they are regarded as plotting against Turkey.
The Turkish Oruc Reis survey ship, moving between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete with a number of Greek frigates nearby saw the Greek ship, the Limnos approach the survey vessel, suddenly coming within the path of the Kemal Reis, one of the Turkish naval escorts. The Greek ship sustained little damage, its bow merely glancing off the rear of the Turkish frigate, in a "mini collision". The Turkish Kemal Reis, however, sustained significant damage, though it's a far newer vessel than the Greek ship, and it will be out of commission for some time, for repairs.
European Council President Charles Michel conveyed to Erdogan the EU's solidarity with Greece, calling for de-escalation of tensions and the avoidance of any further provocations; to resort to reasonable dialogue in the prevention of potential conflict. Reasonable advice, but not the kind that appeals particularly to the combative, restive, irascible Erdogan.
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Greek and French vessels sail in formation during a
joint military exercise in Mediterranean sea, in this undated handout
image obtained by Reuters on August 13, 2020
(photo credit: GREEK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
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Labels: Conflct, European Union, Greece, Turkey, Turkish President Erdogan
posted by Pieface @ Friday, August 21, 2020
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