Paphos Life

Is Recep Erdogan a canny political operator or is he showing his true colours? His previous dream of joining the EU (he could take our place actually) seems to be in tatters after his latest bout of apparently irrational behaviour ............. stuff the Germans & for good measure the Dutch as well!

All good stuff to cement his position in the presidential referendum next month & is he deliberately playing into the hands of Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party in Holland?

Does this guy really hold the key to the Cyprus problem as some would suggest?


Shane

Can't imagine why the Turks think they have the right to hold political rallies in another country. Shouldn't think Erdogan would allow foreigners to hold political rallies in Turkey - after all, he doesn't appear to allow dissent of any form!

Just waiting for the strong reaction from the EU/EC informing Erdogan that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated against another member state, and the Dutch can rely on the full support of the EU political machine.

...............[tap]...................[tap].......................[tap]

No, still waiting

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2017 2:09 pm I'm not sure that the EU needs to respond to each and every political spat. I read that there was a similiar spat the week before between Turkey and Germany. The EU didn't get involved then either.

And for the same reason presumably

Meanwhile the state controlled press remind the Dutch that their military is only 48,000 strong, and helpfully put it in context by reminding them there are 400,000 Turks in the Netherlands
Which doesn't sound threatening at all

And then Erdogan claims anyone not permitting Turkish demonstrations in their country are Nazis, and he should know. All foreign political demonstrations are, of course, banned in Turkey

A NATO intervention would be interesting!


Shane

I read an article last week that said US, French & Italian companies amongst others will be drilling in the Cyprus EEZ this year ................ will Turkey really challenge them with "gun boat" diplomacy, maybe a step too far if they do IMHO!


Shane

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2017 6:03 pm Is the EU to issue a 'strong reaction' each time Turkey starts throwing it's toys around?

Why not? They did with Russia...

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2017 6:03 pm And what effect would that have, if it did?

"The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing" (Edmund Burke)

The events in the Netherlands last night will no doubt strengthen the vote for Geert Wilders Freedom Party on Wednesday this week...

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2017 6:03 pm There were one or two incursions into Cypriot airspace by the Turkish Air Force last week. And there is talk that Turkey will send it's gunboat into Cypriot waters when Total's oil exploration resumes in a few month's time. Is the EU to issue a 'strong reaction' each time Turkey starts throwing it's toys around? And what effect would that have, if it did? Is Erdogan likely to listen...and be suitably chastised? Erdogan is a law unto himself, just like Trump.

You quite right, the EU has proved time and time again the only real friend Cyprus has against Turkish aggression against its economic exploitation is Israel. Holland are now finding out exactly what support they'll actually get from the EU [i.e. zero] despite agreeing to put some of their small military resources under direct EU control.

At least Erdogan is doing us the favour of confirming what a useless, toothless, and ineffective diplomatic and political 'force' the EU is.

Just in case any of us were still in any doubt, of course

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2017 4:15 pm Well that your opinion of course, Pete G; I would beg to differ. Having 28 member states (currently) in the EU, has over the many years of it's existence greatly reduced the chance of one member state taking up arms again another. Never have we enjoyed such a prolonged period of peace in Europe. No minor blessing I would suggest.

True, true. I just think it's got rather more to do with NATO than the EU though. Well that and that another 'total war' in Europe would result in large patches of Europe ceasing to exist, which certainly generates a degree of pause.

The EU as an entity was completely useless in preventing conflict in the Balkans, at best neutral when one of it's member states was invaded, has consistently taken the Turkish 'side' over Cyprus, and was pretty much singlehandedly responsible for the conflict in the Ukraine, and now its stated policy is that it needs an army independent of member state control so it can establish an EU presence in every country on Russia's Western borders [not that that would be considered provocative, of course]

But besides that, yes I see what you mean