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Egypt-Greece joint military exercise “illegal”, warns Turkey

CAIRO: Greece’s joint military exercise with Egypt, Medusa 5, has brought an angry response from Turkey.

The exercise, which began on Monday on the Greek island of Rhodes and ends today, included joint naval operations and search-and-rescue drills. Egyptian naval and air forces took part.

In a written statement, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry alleged the exercise is illegal, citing the 1947 Treaty of Paris, which prohibits any kind of military education activities on Rhodes.
The island was informally united with Greece after World War II on the condition that it would remain demilitarized.

“Therefore, this … is an open breach of international law,” the statement claimed.

Turkey and Greece came to the brink of war as recently as 1996, when a dispute over the ownership of uninhabited islets known as Imia in Greek and Kardak in Turkish threatened to escalate out of control, before US diplomatic intervention calmed the situation. But that territorial dispute — along with the wider disagreements over sovereignty in and around the Aegean Sea.

According to the Anadolu news agency, the statement said Turkey had conveyed warnings to the Greek Embassy in Ankara and reminded them of the importance of avoiding unilateral actions that could increase tensions in the Aegean Sea.

Rhodes is located in the southeastern part of the sea, close to the Turkish coast. In July, the Greek coastguard opened fire on a Turkish commercial ship in international waters off the island’s coast.

“In this framework, we stress our expectation that Greece will avoid hostile acts and acts against international law, and we invite third parties not to be partners to these kinds of violations by Greece,” the statement added.

Observers from four countries — America, Italy, Cyprus and the UAE — have been invited to Medusa 5.

Meanwhile, Greek Minister of National Defense Panos Kammenos told the press on October 1 that Greece is planning to hold joint military exercises with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel — a move that many suggest was intended as a message to Ankara that major regional powers support Greece’s stance against Turkey, which Greece claims is stealing its right to gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly plans to visit Greece in late November or early December, tensions have been rising between the traditional rivals since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016.

During a joint news conference with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, on Oct. 24, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urged Greece not to become a “safe haven” for the architects of the coup attempt, citing the 995 people who have applied for asylum in Greece since then.

In response, Kotzias said decisions on asylum seekers were made by the Greek judiciary and had to be respected “even if it doesn’t please some.”

Mohamed Abd Elkader, editor-in-chief of Turkish Affairs, a review published by Egypt’s Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said he believes the current posturing is unlikely to escalate into any serious military confrontation.

“Egypt, Greece and Cyprus have greatly enhanced cooperation in the last three years, and that has increased Turkey's concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he told Arab News.

“Turkey sent some of its military planes to eavesdrop and spy on the drills, but no further response is probable,” he added.

“The two nations are both using their political leverage for the time being, but the military balance and regional context in Europe or in the Middle East don’t offer the possibility of a military option,” Abd Elkader concluded.
 

Lieutenant

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Why would Turkey warn Greece when the military exercise is taking place on internationally recognized sovereign areas belonging to Greece! I don't understand this dispute maybe @T-123456 can chime in.
 

T-123456

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Why would Turkey warn Greece when the military exercise is taking place on internationally recognized sovereign areas belonging to Greece! I don't understand this dispute maybe @T-123456 can chime in.
That is because the 1947 Treaty of Paris prohibits any kind of military education activities on the Rhodes island, which was transferred to Greece from Italy after World War II on the condition that it would be disarmed.
“Therefore, this military exercise conducted on Rhodes is an open breach of international law.”
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/m-ust000004-0311.pdf
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-warns-greece-over-illegal-military-exercise-121824
 

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That is because the 1947 Treaty of Paris prohibits any kind of military education activities on the Rhodes island, which was transferred to Greece from Italy after World War II on the condition that it would be disarmed.
“Therefore, this military exercise conducted on Rhodes is an open breach of international law.”
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/m-ust000004-0311.pdf
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-warns-greece-over-illegal-military-exercise-121824

The international community will most likely stand with Greece against Turkey as they have always been selective when it comes to muslim countries. (!_!)
 

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Erdogan becomes first Turkish leader to visit Vatican in 59 years
By Ed Adamczyk
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Feb. 05, 2018


Erdogan-becomes-first-Turkish-leader-to-visit-Vatican-in-59-years.jpg


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Pope Francis Monday, becoming the first Turkish leader in 59 years to visit the Vatican. Photo courtesy Anadolu agency


Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Thousands of police officers were deployed in Rome Monday to secure Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Erdogan traveled to Vatican City Monday to meet with the pontiff. In anticipation of the trip, Italian officials mobilized 3,500 police and barred protests during the visit.

After an official welcoming ceremony, Erdogan met with Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Pietro Parolin in a closed-door session. He is the first Turkish leader in 59 years to visit the Vatican.

Before his departure from Turkey, Erdogan said he and Vatican leaders would discuss Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Iraq, counterterrorism, refugee issues and humanitarian aid.

The Turkish leader added that he and the pope agree the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December was a mistake. The pope was a prominent critic of President Donald Trump's decision.

"We especially welcomed [the pope's] stance on the Jerusalem issue. We spoke several times over the phone during this period. His positive stance really mattered to
show us what we can jointly do together with him as the Christian world's leader," Erdogan said.

Pro-Kurdish groups threatened massive demonstrations against Turkey's attacks on Kurdish forces in Syria, but Rome responded with a 24-hour ban.

The right-wing Brothers of Italy party was also critical of Erdogan's visit, warning against immigration that it said would lead to the "Islamization of Europe." Party President Giorgia Meloni said the Italian people sought to send a message to Turkey by rejecting Turkey's interest in joining the European Union.
On Saturday, Erdogan criticized European leaders for blocking the attempt to join the EU.

During the visit to Rome, Erdogan also planned to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-...tican-in-59-years/2981517834904/?spt=slh&or=3
 

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A way to bridge the gap and maybe join the European Union.

The right-wing Brothers of Italy party was also critical of Erdogan's visit, warning against immigration that it said would lead to the "Islamization of Europe." Party President Giorgia Meloni said the Italian people sought to send a message to Turkey by rejecting Turkey's interest in joining the European Union.
On Saturday, Erdogan criticized European leaders for blocking the attempt to join the EU.
 

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A way to bridge the gap and maybe join the European Union.

Dialogue between different mindsets /religions/ point of views, is a good thing. It encourages tolerance, and understanding. We should not be shy in engaging them, and more of us should do it, in order to make "us" better human beings.
 

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Dialogue between different mindsets /religions/ point of views, is a good thing. It encourages tolerance, and understanding. We should not be shy in engaging them, and more of us should do it, in order to make "us" better human beings.
But I don't think so it change anything other than clearing some fog for Mr. Erdogan who labeled Islamist by west.
 

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But I don't think so it change anything other than clearing some fog for Mr. Erdogan who labeled Islamist by west.
Those who think Erdogan is an"Islamist," need to wake up and smell the coffee.
 

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Turkey, U.S. agree to normalize relations to defuse tensions

By Ed Adamczyk | Feb. 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?ur...ormalize+relations+to+defuse+tensions&via=upi


Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Turkey and the United States agreed Friday to defuse a crisis in northern Syria, the Turkish foreign minister said after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the two countries reached an "understanding to normalize" relations. He and Tillerson met on Friday in Ankara to iron out disputes that have brought about the most severe tensions in years between the two NATO allies.

The diplomats agreed that resolving a dispute over the Syrian city of Manbij is a priority. Turkey has threatened to attack the city, which has been controlled by Kurdish forces and U.S. troops since it was taken in 2016 from the Islamic State by the Kurdish People's Protection Units.

The military group, known as YPG, is regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organization.
"We will start with Manbij. We will ensure it. Who administers these provinces and who provides security for them is important to reach stability. We can take steps with the U.S. on this issue after YPG militants are removed from Manbij," Çavuşoğlu said after the meeting. "We have to be sure the YPG will withdraw to the east of the
Euphrates [River]. The YPG has to leave Manbij first. This is already a U.S. promise to Turkey."

Last week, a U.S. general promised an aggressive response if Turkey attacked Manbij.

After Friday's meeting, Tillerson noted the United States' "deep and important relationship with Turkey," and said Washington and Ankara "share the same objectives" in defeating IS and achieving a unified Syria. He also promised that the United States would not "act alone" in Syria, and that weapons provided the Syrian Democratic Forces, largely comprised of YPG groups, will be "limited, mission-specific and provided on [an] incremental basis to achieve military objectives."

During the meeting, Tillerson said, he and Cavusoglu "clarified objectives" and "reached a consensus."
"Our relationship with Turkey is enduring and strategic," he later said in a Twitter message.

The secretary of state also urged Ankara to release U.S. citizens jailed in Turkey.
Cavusoglu said Turkey and the United States will "establish mechanisms" to tackle a list of disagreements with a meeting scheduled for next month.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-...tions-to-defuse-tensions/8871518781731/?nll=1
 

UAE

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During the past couple of years till today we have been hearing about unpleasant incidents of robbery, mugging and assault targeting tourists visiting Turkey. From own experience and all the footages recorded of Turkish citizens targeting tourists I can make the claim that Turkey is not safe anymore for people to visit. The question is what has led to this situation? Is it the decline in the economy and the value of the Lira that made those people turning into criminals.
 
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