Filenews 22 May 2022 - by Kostas Venizelos
The oriental bazaar, imposed by occupying Turkey on NATO in order to consent to Finland's and Sweden's accession to the Alliance, is not just Erdogan's tricks. This is an "opportunity", which the Turkish President is using to satisfy his timeless and new claims and this is the direction in which the NATO people seem to be moving. In other words, to find ways to satisfy some of the Turkish demands. And they will find a way out, although they resent Ankara's stance, as among other things they fear that what most suspect will not apply, that the leader of the occupying power may be playing the role of Putin's "Trojan horse" in NATO.
It is clear that the range of issues raised by Ankara is wide. He knows that he will not be satisfied with everything, but he will insist on securing as much as possible. He has done so in the past, he always does so and he makes a profit. He goes to the cashier to collect and the question is who will pay the bills.
The issue that is taking precedence on the Turkish side in relation to the accession of the two countries to the Alliance concerns the Kurds. The aim is to stop all cooperation with the Kurdish Movement, which is described by the occupying Turkey as terrorist, while claiming to pose a threat to the country's security.
In this context, they call for the interruption of relations with the PKK and all support for Kurdish groups in Iraq and Syria (military and political). Although in countries such as Finland and Sweden, in which democracy fully operates, such restrictions cannot be accepted by their societies, however, we have watched the two countries send missions to Ankara to explain their positions on the need to join NATO and discuss "Turkish concerns". Turkish concerns and the need to discuss them were also mentioned by the Secretary General of the Organization, Gens Stoldenberg, who, while he would leave as a failure (which he is), may now hand over to his successor a larger NATO, with two new members.
It is clear that Turkey is not limited to the Kurdish question. As has been noted, it has a long list and a long agenda.
From the European Union and EU-Turkey relations, what is expected to be pursued is progress in the Turkey-EU Customs Union. This is an issue which also depends on the Republic of Cyprus and which Ankara is keen to want because it will also have economic benefits. In Brussels, they have always believed that dialogue should be maintained in order to keep Turkey close, and there are many supporters of upgrading the Customs Union.
The agenda is bigger than the Americans. It is clear that he wants to rejoin the F-35 advanced aircraft program. Its blockade, as we all know, came after the purchase of the Russian S-400 missiles. At the same time, the market for F-16 fighter jets has been opened, as well as an upgrade of the existing fleet. As far as the second is concerned, the US administration is ready to move forward, but the final decision depends on Congress. And there, as the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, admitted, Ankara faces a mountain of difficulties and reactions.
In relation to energy, Ankara believes that it has managed, with American help, to block the construction of the EastMed pipeline. This is the well-known American intervention to neutralize the plan, which, as evidenced by reports, was made as a gift to Ankara. At the same time, Turkey is asking to be part of the energy planning in the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighting in particular the issue of the transport of natural gas by pipeline through Turkey to Europe. The issue arises at a time when all the other players in the region are welcoming Egypt's solution. Reports say that Erdogan's advisers and officials of the Turkish Foreign Ministry are reintroducing the pipeline issue and linking it to broader developments and primarily to the role of occupying Turkey in the Ukrainian issue. This is an issue on which they will insist.
At the same time, Ankara will proceed with new drillings in the summer and is trying to operate against the companies and countries where they come from, in the logic of "do not disturb, and we will not disturb you".
As far as the Cyprus issue is concerned, there is no clear information on what it is asking for. Apparently its claims concern energy as there is no mobility in the Cyprus issue and it is not expected to occur until the 2023 elections. In relation to the presidential elections in Turkey, it should be noted that Erdogan has announced a move that will make Turkey bigger and territorial. This will be pursued fervently and the weak link is being sought, as always. That is why it is required that Turkish movements are monitored and that preventive moves be made, although in this sport Nicosia does not perform well.
It is obvious that Erdogan is pulling the rope, stretching it, believing that it will not be cut because his claims or some of them will be met in the end. For so many years he has learned that westerners need him, to the extent that they tolerate him. He also knows that the policy so far against him, that of appeasement, has not changed. The question is who will have to pay the damages.
FUNDS FOR FAMAGUSTA IN THE ECONOMIC PROTOCOL OF TURKEY PSEUDO-STATE
The various movements of the occupying Turkey in the enclosed area of occupied Famagusta consolidate through new faits accomplis the planning for its colonization. This is a plan, according to which from October 2020, when it began, it aims to operate the area within a "normality" and to unite with the rest of the city of occupied Famagusta.
It is also clear from the Turkey-pseudo-state Economic Protocol of 2022, which has been recently signed, that a priority has been set for the development of the enclosed area of Famagusta. That is, there are funds available to proceed with projects for the reconstruction and development of the region, so that it receives people in the first phase for tourism, visitors and then for settlement. Colonization is the ultimate goal and the formation of faits accomplis, which in their estimation will not be overturned.
The creation of mobility, such as the creation of an organized beach in front of the King George Hotel, which by the way is ramshackle and had been deemed dangerous, up to the Oceania apartment building, but also the inauguration of a recent mausoleum of Pertef Pasha, in the enclave, are part of the design. A design, which proceeds with the tactic of salamisification.
Nicosia, for its part, has begun the démarches, mainly to the United Nations and the European Union, highlighting the violation of the resolutions of the International Organization. It is noted that UNFICYP, which detected the violation from the first moment, cannot move freely in the occupied territories as obstacles are being put forward by the occupying army. The Attilas demand that UNFICYP asks for permission to move, which is not accepted by the Peacekeeping Force.
