There has been anger after a decision by Germany to sell six high-tech state-of-the-art submarines to Turkey. The criticism has come primarily from Greece and Cyprus, who regard Turkey as a military threat in the region.
The current Turkish far-right regime has continually broken international law over recent years, including moving military vessels into Greek and Cypriot maritime territory. Turkey has invaded Syria whilst also assisting the Azerbaijani state to carry out war crimes in Artsakh. The regime has also assisted Islamic extremist groups in Libya and Syria who have been involved in mass-killings, mass-rape, and widespread torture. The Turkish regime under Recep Erdogan has imprisoned almost all senior opposition journalists and banned opposition parties, leaving him in effect as an Islamist dictator.
Greece's Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said of the decision of Germany to sell the powerful weapons:
"I cannot but express our profound disappointment over SPD's role on the motions of an arms embargo to Turkey. Both Prime Minister Mitsotakis and I have numerous times spoken to almost everyone in Germany about the necessity to keep the balance in the Aegean."
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer defended the submarine deal by saying:
"The program to build and sell in Turkey the six type-214 submarines cannot be stopped – or even delayed – because the construction company Thyssen is bound by contracts signed since 2002."
At an EU summit on June 24th and 25th, a resolution read:
"The European Council reiterates the EU's readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest, subject to the conditions set out in March and in previous European Council conclusions."
Greece has yet again failed to have sanctions imposed on its volatile neighbour. Leading many to believe the European Union do not properly protect their members.
Nacho Sánchez Amor, who drafted the report, did however add:
"The report is probably the toughest ever in its criticism. It reflects all that has unfortunately happened in the country in the last two years, in particular in the fields of human rights and rule of law, which remain the main area of concern for the European Parliament."
[h/t: Greek Reporter]
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