A complex scenario is taking shape in the region, as Athens is called upon to face open fronts and respond to inflammatory statements made. Ankara shows to recall their revisionist narrative and raise the tone after a period of silence, triggering a reaction from the Greek side that wants open communication channels, but at the same time clearly defines the limits.
At the same time, the new leadership of North Macedonia insists in its statements on not using the country’s constitutional name. At the same time, eyes also turn to Albania, where, after the court’s decision Freddy Beleris he will remain in prison until October.
In Athens, they carefully monitor what is happening in the neighborhood and prepare the next moves in the diplomatic field, sending… messages to the recipients. The objective is not to open new fronts in an era of multiple geopolitical challenges, with the government highlighting that the country is a factor of stability and security in the region.
Where is Ankara going?
In moves that disturb the “calm waters” of Greek-Turkish relations, Turkey has returned, which seems to be remembering the… blue homeland again. With an illegal NAVTEX he issued, he blocks a maritime area south of Rhodes and east of Crete for communication cable installation work. Greece reacted by issuing its own NAVTEX, declaring that the area belongs to its own jurisdiction and that it forms part of the Greek continental shelf.
Athens’ reaction to the provocative statements made by the Turkish Foreign Minister on Cyprus in the context of developments in the Middle East and the references to our country was immediate.
“Greece, like all European Union member states, stands in solidarity with Cyprus,” diplomatic sources said, while noting that “threats against the sovereignty and status of a European Union member state are absolutely unacceptable ”. They also highlighted that “Greece does not accept suggestions on how it carries out its policy and guarantees its national interests”. As the same sources stated, “during the crisis in the Middle East, Greece maintained a principled position, which is appreciated by all parties involved and therefore keeps all channels of communication open, without breaking with any country”.
In Athens, they have no illusions and know that the neighboring country will not abandon its revisionist narrative overnight. They are waiting to see whether the latest moves will continue and whether Ankara will gradually return to a rhetoric of tension that it had adopted in previous years. Note here that Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a highly symbolic move, will go to Cyprus on the black anniversary of the Turkish invasion,
Father Beleris
Fredis Beleris remains in prison after the decision of the Court of Appeal, which maintained the sentence of the first trial of two years in prison. “The decision of the Tirana Court of Appeal supports these concerns about the level of the rule of law and the protection of minorities in Albania” is highlighted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is noteworthy that “Mr. Beleris is not just the elected mayor of Himaras.
He is also an elected member of the European Parliament” and it is emphasized that “it is therefore the obligation of the Albanian authorities to take all necessary measures to give him the opportunity to attend the work of the European Parliament, starting from its Plenary, next July”.
On Wednesday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the decision, saying that “effectively puts Albania face to face with the European Parliament in total. Freddy Beleris must assume his duties as an elected deputy and not be obstructed, as happened when he was elected President of the Chamber. I wish and hope that this happens, because I think that Tirana also knows that anything else will make Albania’s European path even more difficult. ».
Ongoing challenges for North Macedonia’s new leadership
At the same time, the eyes turn to North Macedonia, where the prime minister of the neighboring country keeps the tone high. “There is no other name for any use except the name of North Macedonia” clarified the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritisat the same time that it characterized “outside of reality, outside of logic and outside of international law, people who hold public positions, in their public discourse, use a name different from that provided for in international law and in the national Constitution”.
It should be remembered here that, at the inauguration ceremony, which followed the vote of confidence, both Mr. Christian Mickoski as well as the ministers of the new government were sworn in in accordance with the country’s constitutional name “Republic of North Macedonia”. However, a little earlier, during the debate in Parliament on his government’s programmatic declarations, he characterized the designation “North” in the constitutional name of his country as “shameful”, but as he said it is already part of the country’s legal system and with which, as he added, he is invited to “capitulate”. In fact, Christian Mickoski, while reading his government’s programmatic statements on Saturday, called the country “Macedonia”.
It should be noted here that Kyriakos Mitsotakis today mentioned the new leadership of North Macedonia and the measures that have been taken. In particular, he noted that “you are not off to a good start, violating both International Law and your obligations, which derive from international agreements. Stop counting without the innkeeper.”
In fact, a few days ago he sent messages again, stressing “we can’t continue like this”. He also noted that the Prime Minister of North Macedonia will find himself in a very uncomfortable position if he persists in this rhetoric when they meet at NATO in the context of the 75th Anniversary Summit.