Filenews 14 November 2021 - by Andreas Pibishis
When the foreign ministers of four Mediterranean countries are at their first joint meeting later this week, they will open a fan of issues that concern not only issues of immediate interest but also concern the Mediterranean, European and international political scene more widely. The meeting of the four foreign ministers is taking place a week after the Conference on Libya and at a time when Turkey is constantly raising the tone at various levels.
The four foreign ministers, Nikos Christodoulides (Cyprus), Nikos Dendias (Greece), Sameh Sioukri (Egypt) and Jean-Yves Le Drian (France) have met each other many times at bilateral and multilateral level. This is the first time that all four of them will sit down at the same table to discuss a wide range of issues. As we are in a position to know, the first quadripartite ministerial meeting will deal with regional issues, energy issues and so-called horizontal issues.
The Athens Quartet comes to confirm the existence of a strong front in the Eastern Mediterranean with basic demands:
>In maintaining security throughout the region
> Respect for the sovereign rights of all states
>The respect for International Law
At the same time, the Athens Quartet comes to further strengthen the role that France wants to play in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. A role to which Turkey is constantly reacting. And the main reason for the Turkish reactions is that these partnerships not only leave it out but constantly highlight its negative role in terms of regional peace and security.
During their meeting in Athens, the foreign ministers of Cyprus, Greece, Egypt and France will discuss the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey's behaviour. According to our information, the four Foreign Ministers will record all the aggressive moves of the Turkish side within the Eastern Mediterranean. Only recently did Recep Tayyip Erdogan proclaim, in short, that everything that exists in terms of energy in the Eastern Mediterranean (on the basis of the Turkish theory of the 'Blue Homeland') belongs to Turkey.
Both the Erdogan reports and the Turkish navy's moves against Cyprus and Greece are issues that do not concern only the two countries. Egypt and France record and do not overlook Erdogan's behaviour. It should be noted that since 1 January the Presidency of the European Union has been going to France, and that means a lot to EU-Turkey relations. It will be of particular interest, with the new year, how Turkey-France relations will move.
The Cyprus issue is also on the agenda. There will be an update on current developments and pending the appointment of an envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Also on the agenda will be the situation in the Middle East, Libya, the Gulf and the Sahel. Issues of special interest for France and Egypt.
However, it is evident from all the themes of regional issues, Turkey in one way or another is entangled or trying to get involved.
The Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean are well known for the Turkish attitude and behaviour. As far as the Middle East is concerned, and in particular the situation in Syria and Libya, Turkey has been actively involved. In all four cases, Ankara's involvement is not only political, but also military. In the Sahel, an area of particular French interest, Turkey has long been trying to set foot. The only area where Turkey is not directly involved is the Gulf, where Iran, a close ally of Ankara, is the protagonist.
Christodoulides, Dendias, Soukri and Le Drian during their meeting next Friday will also deal with energy issues and the course of cooperation of the three countries adjacent to Cyprus, Egypt and Greece. The four foreign ministers are expected to discuss issues related to cooperation in the field of energy so far as well as further prospects. The wider issue of energy security is also expected to be discussed.
As far as the so-called horizontal issues are concerned, the four Foreign Ministers will examine ways of further cooperation in dealing with the pandemic, as well as the issues of migration. For Cyprus and Greece, the role that both Egypt and France can play towards the African continent on migration issues is very important. A large wave of migrants arriving in Greece and Cyprus comes from Sahel countries and therefore ways will be sought how France and Egypt can contribute to addressing these problems.
Before the quartet, Nikos Christodoulides was in Dubai this weekend where he participated in the annual session of the "Sir Bani Yas Forum". It is a closed-door strategic forum where a number of regional issues are discussed. On Tuesday he will have a meeting with Nikos Dendias who will be in Nicosia to participate in the Economist conference. Nikos Christodoulides and Nikos Dendias will participate in the panel entitled "Can the prospect of peace and cooperation prevail in the Eastern Mediterranean?". During the presence of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, there will be a review of the issues that concern the two countries and a coordination in view of the Athens Quartet and in view of the Foreign Affairs Council that will take place a few days later.
Attention to the French PRESIDENCY of the EU
Relations between Egypt and the European Union will also be on the agenda of the quartet. Apart from the fact that three of the four countries participating in this summit are members of the European Union, there is another important aspect, the French Presidency in the first half of 2022. Not only for Egypt but also for Greece and Cyprus, this meeting will be of particular interest in order to record French intentions in the run-up to the Presidency. Mainly on issues of Greek-Cypriot interest. Although the EU Presidency tries to move over and above its own national agenda, it is not always the case for Europe's strongmen.
