Turkey cancels maneuvers eastern Mediterranean in anticipation of any European pressure
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Turkish security and diplomatic sources announced two days ago, that Turkey cancelled maneuvers and trainings in the eastern Mediterranean, in anticipation of any European move to pressure it after the recent escalation, according to observers.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), announced that both Turkey and Greece cancelled the military maneuvers that were planned to be conducted next week, official Turkish media sources reported.
Stoltenberg welcomed the decision noting to the “flexibility” in the Turkish position, without mentioning the reasons.
Turkish security sources said that the decision to cancel the maneuvers is based on a proposal by Turkey “to solve the disputes via dialogue on the basis of good neighborhood.”
“It is clear that this is a new Turkish concession in the east of Mediterranean, especially since it had announced its readiness for dialogue,” Jawad Gul, a journalist specialized in Turkish Affairs, told North Press.
“Turkey started to yield to the European pressure to avoid future sanctions, and there will be more concessions regarding Libya, Syria, or even Azerbaijan in the coming days,” Gul added.
“The policy of zero problems is the most successful, because challenge and intransigence had a negative impact on the Turkish interior situation, especially the economic,” said Recep Menderes, professor of foreign relations in Aksaray University.
Menderes told North Press that after the German and American intervention, the escalation tone raised and described the Turkish move as “provocative.”
“The sanctions’ paper will be used against Turkey in order not to return to its one-sidedness policy,” Menderes added.
On Friday, Turkish president, recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that his country “wants to solve all issues peacefully.”
On October 20, Turkey announced its readiness for dialogue regarding the dispute with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean.