After KSA also Bahrain expels Lebanese ambassador
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Alaina
- . July 29, 2020
- . Update: October 30, 2021 8:52 pm
Turkey will suspend “for some time” the energy explorations launched last week in the south-east Aegean Sea, in an area disputed with Athens off the Greek island of Kastellorizo. Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told Turkish CNN. “Our president said: As the negotiations continue, we are constructive,” said Kalin, assuring that Ankara is ready to “discuss with Greece unconditionally.”
“Greece is an important neighbour of ours,” added the spokesperson for Erdogan, also hoping that the two countries can conduct joint activities in the disputed areas. He stressed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel played a constructive role in the de-escalation with Athens, claiming that the Aegean has not come to the brink of war as the German press reported. “We resolve our bilateral issues with Greece bilaterally. We cannot achieve results by using the fact of being a member of the EU as an instrument of pressure”, continued Kalin, also referring to the threats of sanctions by French President Emmanuel Macron for Ankara’s interference in Libya.
But what is really behind the setback of Erdogan’s expansionist, neo-colonial and Ottoman program?Without a doubt, one of the most incisive factors is the economic crisis, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of stopping.Despite the optimism expressed by Erdogan and his Finance Minister Berat Albayrak regarding the first signs of recovery, Turkey is facing a crisis that goes beyond the economic sphere due to the health emergenhe post in September. Kordahi is close to the Christian Marada Movement, an ally of the terrorist Hezbollah group.
Kordahi held a news conference in Beirut earlier this week, refusing to apologize for the interview, which he said was transmitted on Aug. 5. He added that he respects the government’s policy of not exposing his opinion since becoming a minister.
“We should not continue to be subjected to blackmail in Lebanon by anyone whether they are countries, ambassadors, or individuals,” Kordahi said, adding that he has no plans to resign from the post over his comments. Riyadh says Hezbollah is helping Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Both Hezbollah and the Houthis are backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and consider themselves part of the self-proclaimed axis of resistance that includes the Syrian regime and powerful Shiite militias in Iraq.
