most clearly were the words for the planned conversion of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque. Luxembourg foreign Minister Jean Asselborn called the measure of Ankara a “blow to the Alliance of civilizations” – a 15-year-old political Initiative, which should strengthen the exchange between Christians and Muslims. His Austrian colleague, Mr Alexander Schallenberg spoke of the “latest link in a chain of provocations”. But the wrath of the Minister for the time being, no further reactions except to a unanimous condemnation of the situation.
more and more conflicts with Turkey
Of the government in Vienna you know that you strikes for years, a particularly critical tone against Turkey. She calls again and again to finish the frozen accession negotiations with Ankara at all. “The European Union should take a clear cut,” says foreign Minister Schellenberger. But this requirement is levied in the EU and has so far led only to the fact that the negotiations were shut down.
“The relations with Turkey have developed in the wrong direction,” added the Luxembourg Asselborn. It was very bad that Ankara people fought rights activists “terrorists”, and in the Mediterranean experiments, his interests against international law to enforce. Thus, he refers to the Turkish gas drilling off the coast of Cyprus, have triggered a continuous dispute between Athens, Ankara and Nicosia.
Also, the military Intervention of Turkey in Libya is criticized. President Erdogan has positioned himself on the side of the internationally recognized government, the heads of Al-Sarraj and helped him to the Advance of militia General Khalifa Haftar to fight back. However, this was a unilateral decision taken by Turkey, the EU is extruded with her “Berlin process” and the search for an international solution to the negotiations on the side line.
“The situation in Libya remains poor, the arms embargo will be broken and the UN Resolution are not implemented,” criticizes EU chief diplomat Borrell. Dispute, there are in addition, because the Turkey is only open a single border crossing for supplies to the war refugees in the North-West of Syria.
“dialogue” about strained relationships
The answer to this list of political provocations for further discussion are deals to Ankara. The foreign Minister would have strengthened Borrell in the back, says the German representative Heiko Maas to continue the dialogue with Turkey. We have discussed the strategic importance of Turkey in foreign and security policy terms, he adds. A note on the 2015 existing agreements on Refugees, which prevents the free passage of migrants to Europe, to a large extent. The extortion attempts of Ankara in the spring, as the Turkish authorities the migrants to the border with Greece, to demand additional payments from the EU, seem to forget almost.
“We have relations with Turkey would strengthen,” said Josep Borrell. However, they were currently under a lot of pressure and development to be generally disturbing. In spite of a number of EU countries, the challenge again and again, sharper reactions and a break with Turkey, mainly Germany, to continue to “Dialog”. The EU chief diplomat had already met last week to his Turkish colleagues – he now has to try to persuade Ankara to back down. If this does not help, then you should consider further “measures”, where sanctions are only a means to an end, and not a substitute for policy.
the EU more wary of Hong Kong
The new so-called security law for Hong Kong was still “draconian” failed as feared, says Josep Borrell, to the most delicate topic on the agenda. It will have an influence on the mutual relations and represents a fraction of China’s international obligations, Beijing is on the principle of “One country, two systems” pledge.
However, there is no immediate counter-measures, but the EU prepare their answer, so it is called in Brussels. And it’s only small steps. So Sweden and Finland announced now, they wanted to suspend the extradition agreement with China in respect of Hong Kong. “All the member countries to think about the agreement on extradition and the mutual legal assistance agreement”, explained the foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, the decision is a national responsibility.
Germany and France had also proposed that goods which could be used for the suppression of protests, as well as the Export of certain military goods should be stopped. Also grants to scientists and artists from Hong Kong, to forgive, to make it easier to stay in the EU and to enable a longer-term whereabouts. You will then come to the special Status of Hong Kong to suspend and “Hong Kong is not more different than mainland China treat,” adds Maas.
Where are the consequences for China?
Paris and Berlin do not propose to so far, are about sanctions against Chinese politicians, to implement the so-called safety act, or economic measures of any kind. here is Also the so-called Dialog in the foreground and, in particular, the Federal government maintains its cautious course toward Beijing. Resistance also comes from some of the particularly close trade partners of China, such as Hungary and Greece. The EU is more divided, and towards China in view of the recent developments to come up with a common stance. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen had spoken recently of the “very serious consequences” because of the new “safety act”. But, specifically, still no sign of it currently.
author: Barbara Wesel
*The contribution of “European Minister of foreign Affairs in Turkey and Hong Kong” is split from Deutsche Welle. Contact with the executives here.
Deutsche Welle
