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A30 world news
Diamars 8 December 2020

In Greece, political spat over lockdown turns personal

death toll reached close to
3,100 on Monday, with most
deaths occurring after Nov. 1.
The government Monday
said it will maintain core
lockdown measures through
the Christmas holidays, ac-
knowledging that monthlong
restrictions have not reduced
COVID-19 cases to the ex-
tent it had hoped for.
Schools, courts, and res-
taurants will remain closed
through Jan. 7, Petsas said,
while non-essential travel
between Greece’s adminis-
trative regions will also be
banned.
Stay-at-home orders nation-
wide will remain in effect
until that date, with move-
ment outside only allowed
with government permis-
sion — which can be granted
by SMS text message. And
(AP) — Holiday goodwill empt people who’ve gone Alpha TV, adding: “I follow lios Petsas said. travelers arriving between
during the coronavirus outdoors for exercise, includ- the rules religiously and it Syriza described the response Dec. 18 and Jan. 7 will be
lockdown? In Greece, it’s ing cycling, from the obliga- bothers me that a small mo- as a “desperate attempt to required to go into precau-
been in short supply be- tion to wear a mask. ment of relaxation or care- change the conversation tionary quarantine for 10
tween the nation’s two Government officials insisted lessness was blown up out of amid the public outcry over days. Restrictions for stores,
leading politicians. Mitsotakis had not broken proportion.” the mishandling of the pan- churches, and hair salons will
the rules, but Syriza, the left- The government hit back demic and the (prime minis- be announced later this week.
A spat has erupted over com- wing main opposition party, against Syriza Monday, citing ter’s) efforts to dodge public The number of daily infec-
peting claims that the prime urged him to publicly apolo- articles in pro-conservative health restrictions.” tions, based on a seven-day
minister and his main rival gize for displaying “arrogance newspapers reporting that Mitsotakis’ center-right New rolling average, is currently
broke the spirit of pandemic and a lack of empathy” for his Alexis Tsipras, the former Democracy has maintained a at 1,609 compared to 2,674 in
restrictions that have re- fellow Greeks. prime minister and cur- strong lead in opinion polls mid-November, according to
newed financial hardship for Mitsotakis on Monday con- rent opposition leader, spent since taking office last year figures tallied by the Health
many voters. ceded he’d been wrong to much of his time in a rented that increased through much Ministry.
Conservative Prime Minis- agree to be photographed upscale seaside home. of the pandemic, as infection On Monday, 1,251 new con-
ter Kyriakos Mitsotakis was without a mask when he met “It’s political hypocrisy for rates remained much lower firmed infections were re-
photographed last weekend the bikers on the trail. the leader of the opposition. than many other European ported, bringing the total so
posing with his mountain “This gave me the opportu- He wants people to see him countries. far to nearly 117,000.
bike, without a mask, along- nity to reflect on how im- as the boy from the (blue- The difference has narrowed The current lockdown was
side five motocross riders on portant the personal example collar) neighborhood and not slightly in recent weeks fol- launched on Nov. 7 and ini-
a hillside trail outside Athens. that politicians set is,” he said someone living the high life,” lowing a post-summer surge tially planned to last for three
Greece’s lockdown rules ex- in an interview with private government spokesman Ste- of cases. Greece’s pandemic weeks.

Erdogan calls for energy talks as EU considers Med sanctions

(AP) — Turkish President Re- reference to the maritime boundaries
cep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that Turkey says other countries are
called for negotiations over ener- seeking to impose on it.
gy exploration rights in the east- At a summit in October, European
ern Mediterranean, days ahead of leaders warned Turkey to withdraw
a European Union summit where its energy research ships or face puni-
leaders could decide to impose tive measures.
sanctions on Turkey. Late last month, the Turkish seismic
survey vessel Oruc Reis returned to
The leaders are meeting Thursday port, as it had done before October’s
in Brussels and will address Turk- EU meeting. However, another re-
ish missions to explore gas reserves search ship, the Barbaros Hayreddin
in waters claimed by EU members Pasa, remains off Cyprus’ southwest
Greece and Cyprus. coast. EU foreign ministers agreed
“We believe we can solve the prob- Monday that Turkey’s behavior has
lems of the eastern Mediterranean not improved and that the two-day
by not excluding each other but summit is looming as a “crucial”
by bringing all the actors together meeting for EU-Turkey ties.
around the same table,” Erdogan said “All of them considered that we have
in a video message to a university fo- not seen a fundamental change of di-
rum on the eastern Mediterranean rection,” EU foreign policy chief Jo- Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Den- summer with a military build-up after
Sea, a region fraught with tensions sep Borrell told reporters after chair- dias last week described Turkish ef- Turkey sent the Oruc Reis, escorted
this year between rivals Greece and ing their talks. “In several aspects the forts to de-escalate the crisis as “un- by navy frigates, into disputed waters.
Turkey. situation has worsened.” convincing” and demanded action to The move prompted Greece to also
However, he said Turkey would “not Erdogan called for the EU to rid itself rein in Ankara. send its warships, and both countries
accept plans and maps that aim to of its “strategic blindness” and not be Tensions between NATO allies Tur- conducted military exercises to assert
confine us to the shores of Antalya”, a used as a tool of Greece and Cyprus. key and Greece escalated over the their claims.