Google Search for Web:

Kajal Agrawal

European Union intends impose sanctions on Turkey to stop Med drilling Featured

  29 अगस्त 2020

European Union on Friday urged Turkey to halt its drilling activities in contested waters in the Mediterranean and ordered EU officials to speed up work aimed at blacklisting some Turkish officials linked to the energy exploration.

Tensions are mounting to breaking point between Turkey and Greece over Turkey’s drilling work near the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which like Greece is an EU member country. Turkish and Greek armed forces have been conducting snap war games in the area.

Referring to what he called “growing frustration” with Turkey, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the sanctions — which include asset freezes and travel bans — could be extended, with Turkish vessels being deprived access to European ports, supplies and equipment. Economic sanctions are also a possibility.

EU leaders will discuss whether to impose the additional measures at a summit in Brussels on Sept 24-25 should Turkey fail to stop what the Europeans consider to be “illegal activities” in the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus.

But Turkey said the EU was only making matters worse by brandishing sanctions and it vowed to defend its rights.“Turkey has to abstain from unilateral actions. This is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance,” Borrell told reporters in Berlin after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

He said the EU is keen to establish a “healthier relationship” with Turkey, which is a candidate for membership in the 27-nation trading bloc, although its accession talks are virtually frozen.

“We must walk a fine line between preserving a true space for dialogue and at the same time showing collective strength in the defense of our common interests. We want to give a serious chance to dialogue,” Borrell said.

Turkey doesn’t recognize the divided island of Cyprus as a state and claims 44% of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone as its own, according to Cyprus government officials. Turkish Cypriots in the east Mediterranean island nation’s breakaway north claim another 25%.

The Cypriot government has prepared a list of Turkish officials that it believes should face sanctions, and it is this list of names that EU officials will accelerate work on in coming days.

Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup by supporters of union with Greece. A Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence is recognized only by Turkey, which keeps more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway north.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said he was satisfied with the results as “Greece won the unanimous support of all its partners,” and because EU leaders will weigh action in a few weeks “if there has been no de-escalation by the Turkish side and dialogue by then.”

Beyond individual sanctions, steps discussed include measures hitting the sale, purchase and export of material related to energy research, the transfer of technology and products. Should those fail, Turkey’s banking and industrial sector could be hit, including with a ban on lending to the country by state-owned banks in Europe. EU funds could also be cut.

Dendias said he hoped “that Turkey will return to common sense, stop provocations, stop arbitrary actions, stop violations of international law.”

But it’s unclear whether sanctions might slow Turkey down. Steps were taken in the past — the slashing of funds meant to prepare Turkey for EU membership and the virtual freezing of its accession talks — yet Ankara has only become more vocal.

On top of that, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shown his willingness to encourage migrants and refugees from Syria to cross the border into Greece and on to Europe, which remains deeply destabilized by the arrival of well over 1 million people in 2015, to ensure that his demands are well understood.Turkey also plays a military role in Libya, a main jumping off point for migrants hoping to reach Europe.

The Foreign Ministry in Ankara said the EU decision would only harden Turkey’s resolve.“The fact that the EU is reverting to the language of sanctions while Turkey constantly emphasizes dialogue and diplomacy, does not help the resolution of the problems and increases our country’s determination even more,” spokesman Hami Aksoy said.

Aksoy said that the EU’s “unconditional support” of Athens and Nicosia was increasing tensions, and that “Turkey will continue to defend its rights and those of the Turkish Cypriots despite the illegal alliance that has been formed against it.”

Meanwhile, Greece and the United Arab Emirates began joint air force training exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, in the latest build-up of military forces. The training flights started Friday, a day after the UAE completed the transfer of nine F-16 fighter jets and four transport planes to a Greek airbase on the island of Crete, the Greek Defense Ministry said.

 

 

Economy, Democracy, Abortion: Key issues…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Early exit polls reveal that the state of democracy is the top concern for most voters in the US presidential election. Abortion and the economy are also key issues. The...

Read more

As Americans vote, it's guns out in Amer…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

With a deeply divided America bracing for the presidential election results, concerns are rising about the potential for political violence. The US already witnessed a surge in such incidents this...

Read more

US election results highlights: It's Don…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Former President Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris faced off in a pivotal election that drew millions of voters. Trump secured early victories in Indiana and Kentucky, while Harris...

Read more

Philadelphia police say they don't know …

05-11-2024

Sample Image

​The Philadelphia Police Department told CNN that they were not aware of what Donald Trump referred to in his post as massive cheating and they did not know of any...

Read more

Google clarifies why it's showing 'where…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

"The 'where to vote' panel is triggering for some specific searches [because] Harris is also the name of a county in [Texas]," Google said in a statement. "Fix is coming...

Read more

Kamala Harris wins Guam straw poll with …

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Guam is a US island territory in Micronesia in the Western Pacific and not a state and hence it is not eligible to elect members of the Electoral College. Its...

Read more

Donald Trump to spend election 2024 nigh…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Former President Donald Trump will spend election night at Mar-a-Lago with a select group of donors, including Elon Musk. The evening will feature multiple gatherings, culminating in an address at...

Read more

Trump says Oprah should be ashamed: 'It…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

“I think Oprah’s become a major divider in our country and I think frankly she should be ashamed of herself,” he continued. “And you know who else should be ashamed?...

Read more

'Fake Melania' theory is back as social …

05-11-2024

Sample Image

​The 'fake Melania' theory made a comeback on social media as users commented that the Melania Trump who came to cast the vote along with Donald Trump was not the...

Read more

Where is Barron Trump as Donald and Mela…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Barron Trump, who recently turned 18, was not seen with his parents, Donald and Melania Trump, as they cast their ballots in Florida. While this election marked Barron's first opportunity...

Read more

Trump impersonator reveals liberal suppo…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

John Di Domenico, a renowned Donald Trump impersonator, faces growing safety concerns amidst heightened political tensions. Friends and colleagues urge him to wear bulletproof vests during performances, fearing potential threats...

Read more

Voting problems reported in Pennsylvania…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Pennsylvania's Cambria and Bedford counties faced scanning problems with the voting machines and software after the voting process began Tuesday. According to reports, the voters could not scan their ballots...

Read more

'Nate Silver's polls so unreliable...': …

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Poll Guru Nate Silver recently accused pollsters of not revealing the actual numbers and intentionally showing a close race. But his final prediction stunned him as he concluded that the...

Read more

Do Meghan Markle, Prince Harry vote in U…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Meghan Markle is a US citizen but Prince Harry has not yet got US citizenship despite living in California for the last four years because of the row over his...

Read more

Ivanka skips father's 'Women for Trump' …

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Donald Trump's 'Women for Trump' rally on the eve of election day was neither attended by Melania nor Ivanka Trump. From his family, the two women on the stage were...

Read more

Home Depot co-founder, GOP donor Megadon…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Home Depot co-founder and prominent GOP donor, Bernard Marcus, has died at 95. Known for his philanthropy, Marcus and his wife pledged a majority of their wealth to charitable...

Read more

British Queen Camilla cancels events thi…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Queen Camilla has postponed her engagements this week due to a chest infection, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. Her doctors have advised rest, leading to her withdrawal from events like...

Read more

US elections 2024: Sunita Williams to ca…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is poised to make history by casting her vote in the upcoming US presidential election from the International Space Station (ISS), approximately 400 km above Earth...

Read more

Equatorial Guinea official under investi…

05-11-2024

Sample Image

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, Equatorial Guinea's top financial investigator, is embroiled in a scandal after explicit videos surfaced online, allegedly showing him in compromising situations with various women, including relatives of...

Read more

Headlines

Priyanka Gandhi

OMAR ABDULLAH:

YouTubeBox _A

NRI News:

Currency Rates

S5 Instagram Feed

YouTubeBox _K

World COVID-19

Poll:

Who will win 2024 General Election in India?