Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-07-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] What concerns me is Turkey's domestic contradictions not pass into inter-state relations, FM Kotzias says

[01] What concerns me is Turkey's domestic contradictions not pass into inter-state relations, FM Kotzias says

"I was disparaged for these views, but developments have a way of bearing out sober assessments," he said when asked on the repercussions that the coup in Turkey might have.

"What interests me is that any restiveness or worsening of domestic contradictions in Turkey not pass into inter-state relations; that the crisis not be exported through accidents. This is a basic criterion for handling the situation," he added.

Asked whether any strengthening of Erdogan leads to an upgrading of Turkish provocations in the Aegean, he replied: The Erdogan era is characterized by the fact that there has been no heated incident against our country. There have been violations of international law, of course. At least in the short term, they will probably decrease. If, of course, domestic authoritarianism increases in our neighbour, then, in the long term, these violations may increase. In any case, we have to be measured and cautious. Sober and calm. We need to take care to develop the friendship between the two peoples.

Regarding the impact on the Cyprus issue from the coup attempt, Kotzias stated: The developments vindicate our position that the Turkish occupation force in Cyprus cannot be an agent for democratic peace or a guarantor of the implementation of a just solution. In fact, it is and will present a danger to any solution. A hotbed generating coups. A real solution includes the complete and definitive withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus, the elimination of the anachronistic system of guarantees. I hope everyone now understands this.

On how the European Union should behave towards Turkey, and if the situation following the coup facilitates the visa liberalization Ankara is seeking, he said:

At the Council of Foreign Ministers last week, we welcomed the defeat of the coup. We agreed that Turkey should show a European political and legal culture; that the victors should show self-restraint and not bring back the death penalty.

Asked if he believes that Turkey, even in the short term, will face problems of cohesion and of maintaining its borders, he noted: The EU wants a democratic Turkey in which the interests and needs of all religious, ethnic and social groups are respected. We don't want a Turkey of revenge, of rifts, of destabilization. In this context, I think Erdogan's statement regarding Hagia Sophia was counterproductive.

Kotzias also said that this was a coup from another era, when it sufficed to take over the state radio stations. Back when there were no social media or private media outlets. It is a coup that struck at parts of the army itself and citizens; that started in the evening of a holiday, with the imams on the balconies, and not in the early-morning hours. There are quite a few who believe that there were forces who were preparing the coup and were discovered, and that, subsequently, perhaps they were trapped into acting early.

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