In 2020, we saw a sharp increase in provocations and pressures from Turkey. After the hybrid war in Evros, there was a significant increase in violations of the EEZ, even repeated overflights over small or even large islands of the Eastern Aegean – a practice unprecedented, not only in Europe but also anywhere else, outside of war zones!

These Turkish actions, especially in the midst of the pandemic, naturally increased concern and created a justified feeling of anger in Greek society, which was transferred as pressure to the political leadership to react. However, actions, especially on national issues by a responsible political leadership, must be decided with sobriety and "cold blood". For some, the invocation of "strategic composure" may be a pretext for strategic inaction, but it is certain that anger is not the appropriate advisor for strategic choices.

A cool analysis shows that if not as a central option, there are certainly circles in the Turkish political-military establishment that seek to strategically coerce Greece through pressure. In other words, they seek to drag Greece to the negotiating table, where the dialogue will take place on a purely political (and not legal) basis and on unfavorable terms, through a heated episode or a crisis. After all, that is what the statement made by the Turkish Foreign Minister (5/8/2019) at the 11th Congress of Turkish Ambassadors refers to, that Turkish diplomacy is active “in the field (of operations) and at the table (of negotiations)”. The “field” and the “table” are not in this perception disjunctive, but complementary and interrelated.

The essence of the Strategy is the interconnection of means and ends. The use of means must serve the intended ends. If we assume, therefore, that the strategy of Turkey or even some of its extreme circles is to provoke a heated episode, how smart would it be to fall into the trap? In fact, the strategy of pressure is facilitated, apparently unintentionally, by the public debate here and the way in which the relevant issues are presented in a portion of the electronic and written press. Turkey's real or imaginary "successes" are magnified and trumpeted while at the same time Greece is presented as weak and permanently humiliated.

In the recent issue of the fence in Evros, we had the phenomenon of internal circulation of various fake news and on the basis of these, a contest of complacency, a recital of self-pity and a bidding war of irresponsibility took place. A series of articles and public interventions wanted the Armed Forces of our country to have retreated in front of a handful of Turkish gendarmes, that national territory had been occupied, that the borders in Evros had been "grayed out", etc. We had the unlikely phenomenon of the issue being raised from this side and the Turkish ambassador himself intervening to take it down. This creates a very serious issue. If without a single Turkish soldier stepping on a single millimeter of ground, this confusion was created, what conclusions does a third party draw? How easy is it to destabilize the decision-making system and to break down national cohesion?

Seismic surveys

The same thing had happened when the research vessel "Oruc Reis" had moved west of Cyprus. Seismic surveys require methodical sailing of several days on a specific chart and for this reason a relevant Notice (NOTAM) is issued. Without these conditions, neither a practical result (seismic survey) nor a political one (claim) is produced. If Turkey wanted to conduct surveys, it would do them like in 2018 with the "Barbaros", where it conducted surveys for three days, after issuing a NAVTEX* and with an escort of frigates and not secretly and with a vague purpose. This did not prevent various "experts" and not, from talking and writing articles about the violation of our Continental Shelf.

It should be made clear that Greece is a European country that follows a policy of principles based on International Legality. We are a country that honors its signature, international agreements and alliance commitments. However, we do not neglect our deterrent power and we do not accept to negotiate under pressure. We follow a strategy that is solidly based on international law, good neighborly relations and cooperation. However, when necessary, we show determination and stability.

For the above reasons, we had the European Union by our side during the hybrid war in Evros and for these reasons we maintain good relations with all the countries of the wider region, except for the problems with Turkey. By participating in the various multilateral formats, we aim for cooperation and not exclusion. On the contrary, we believe that the inclusion of a larger number of countries gives our region much greater stability. We do not perceive our international relations as a zero-sum game or a prisoner's dilemma, but as a cooperative positive-sum project.

Both lost

We want to believe that in neighboring Turkey there is a segment of the political world and civil society that perceives the international system in the same way. That sees that the confrontation – and especially now after the coronavirus crisis – leaves both sides losing. That understands that the diplomacy of gunboats belongs to the 19th century and that the door to Europe lies in Greece. That understands that the overflights over the Greek islands cannot be accepted by the European Union and the international community and that in themselves they not only justify but impose the militarization of these islands. That understands, finally, that good neighborly relations based on International Law, yield much more than relations of rivalry and confrontation.

Greece always remains open to relations of cooperation and mutual respect, but does not negotiate under pressure and coercion. Respect for our National Sovereignty is an absolute condition and is not relativized under any condition. Greece remains what it has always been: A European, proud, strong country that respects International Legality and operates within the framework of an International System governed by rules. In this sense, the ball is in Turkey's court and it must decide which continent it belongs to and in which century it lives.

*Rear Admiral Alexandros Diakopoulos is National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office

Republished: TA NEA  https://www.tanea.gr/2020/06/01/opinions/aleksandros-diakopoulos-kamia-diapragmateysi-me-tourkia-ypo-piesi-kai-katanagkasmo/