Only if Turkey feels the pressure!
Source: in-cyprus.com
Occupying Turkey has done what was expected for some time, stretching the rope of tension with Greece even further. Ankara, as officially announced, has proceeded to submit maps outlining its Maritime Spatial Planning, which includes areas of the Aegean Sea!
This move, which should have surprised no one, has once again confirmed the expansionist ambitions of the occupying power against the Greek side—both Greece and Cyprus.
Ankara, speaking of “official registration”, has published the map that depicts its illegalities and absurd claims. This obviously does not legitimise its actions but creates impressions and confirms its extreme behaviour.
It is clear that by sending these maps to the relevant UNESCO service, the occupying power is attempting to respond to Greece and the completion of the first phase of maritime spatial planning by the Greek side—which, incidentally, does not affect Turkey. Of course, for Turkey there are no limits to illegal disputes and claims.
Through the maps Turkey has submitted, the influence of Greek islands is disputed and the “median line theory” between Turkey and mainland Greece is reintroduced. The maps express the occupying power’s chronic expansionist ambitions.
Athens may have expected that Turkey would avoid moving in this manner given the ongoing discussions aimed at holding the High-Level Cooperation Council and the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting in Ankara in early July.
There is also the possibility of a Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting at the NATO Summit in The Hague (24-25 June). The meeting would have taken place under different circumstances, but Ankara rushed to submit the maps.
During a critical period for the broader region, such actions clearly burden the climate. It is our assessment that Ankara deliberately made this move, exploiting the circumstances and developments in the wider region. After all, it too wants to play a role and have a say.
Only those living in delusions expected anything different from Turkey. But even they now find themselves confronted with the realities that the occupying power is attempting to impose.
It is clear that such provocations cannot go unanswered. It is obvious that only if Turkey feels pressure and faces costs will it modify its stance and behaviour.
The original article: belongs to in-cyprus.com .
