Page 17 - MEOG Week 37

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

POLICY economic and trade fields. EU’s seven Mediterranean nations, which
Underlining the signing of the Iran- threatened Turkey with sanctions over its
Iranian, Chinese SMEs to China MOU as a symbol of joint efforts for hydrocarbon exploration activities. France
developing the two countries’ long-term
has lately strengthened its military presence
expand cooperation cooperation, the official stressed that through in the eastern Mediterranean to back Greece
inking the mentioned MOU, a new chapter in
and Cyprus. The two countries say Turkey is
Iran Small Industries and Industrial Parks international events, as well as joint ventures attempting to intimidate them with a series of
Organization (ISIPO) and China International of the two countries, will be opened. naval exercises.
Small and Medium Enterprises Fair has TEHRAN TIMES Macron also prompted a response from
signed a memorandum of understanding Omer Celik, a spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling
(MOU) for the expansion of industrial and Macron draws wrath of Justice and Development Party (AKP). He
commercial cooperation. wrote on Twitter that Macron was deploying a
The MOU was signed during an online Erdogan “colonialist” game by trying to drive a wedge
ceremony attended by ISIPO Head Mohsen between Erdogan and the Turkish people.
Salehinia and Wu Hong, the Chinese Deputy French President Emmanuel Macron has “The country against which you are using
Director-General of the Department of drawn the wrath of Turkish counterpart Recep threatening language is Turkey. Turkey will
Industry and Information Technology of Tayyip Erdogan by stating that his problem give you the most appropriate response. Mr
Guangdong Province. is not with the Turkish people, for whom Macron, do not get us confused with those
Speaking in the signing ceremony, he has great respect, but with the Erdogan tribal states that you can easily trick. Nobody
Salehinia said: “Considering that Iran Small government. has the power to separate the elected president
Industries and Industrial Parks Organization Erdogan responded with characteristic of this country and its people,” Celik added.
and China International Small and Medium angry rhetoric on September 12, telling In his speech, Erdogan accused Macron of
Enterprises Fair have had successful Macron “not to mess” with Turkey. “lacking historical knowledge”. “Mr Macron,
cooperation in recent years, sufficient ground Relations between the supposedly Nato- you’re going to have more problems with me,”
and experience has been formed for the allied nations of France and Turkey have he threatened. France, he said, “couldn’t give
development of industrial and trade relations.” grown fraught in recent months over Ankara’s a lesson in humanity” to Turkey. Macron,
“So far, more than 50 Iranian companies exploration for gas and oil in areas of the he added, should look first at France’s own
have participated in this exhibition and eastern Mediterranean that are claimed by record, notably in Algeria and its role in the
offered their products to the Chinese market EU members Greece and Cyprus. Paris is 1994 Rwandan genocide.
that the result of which was signing some also unhappy at Turkey’s intervention in the “Macron, you already don’t have much
successful cooperation agreements,” Salehinia Libyan Civil War and role in the Syria conflict. time. You’re on your last legs,” Erdogan also
said. “Don’t mess with the Turkish people. Don’t said, referring to the next French presidential
“At present, we are trying to improve the mess with Turkey,” Erdogan, under pressure election, which will be held in 2022.
cooperation of the Iranian companies with the from mounting economic problems, said Erdogan additionally accused France of
Chinese side in the framework of concluding during a televised speech in Istanbul on the intervening in Libya “for petrol”, and in Africa
this memorandum of understanding”, he 40th anniversary of the 1980 military coup. for “diamonds, gold, copper”. However, Turkey
added. Macron on September 10 had said itself was last week reportedly involved in
Wu Hong, for his part, thanked ISIPO for Europeans must be “clear and firm with, not negotiating for oil rights in Libya.
its cooperation in recent years, considering Turkey as a nation and people, but with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
Iran as an important economic and trade government of Erdogan, which has taken meanwhile, visited Cyprus on September
partner for China in West Asia due to its unacceptable actions”. 12 and, after meeting Republic of Cyprus
excellent cooperation with his country in the He was speaking before the summit of the President Nicos Anastasiades and Foreign

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