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WORLD NEWS Saturday 12 december 2020
Faced with U.S., E.U. sanctions, Erdogan calls for dialogue

By SUZAN FRASER destabilizing its member
Associated Press states as well as its regional
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — environment.”
Faced with the prospect He praised the EU decision
of sanctions from both the and the prospect of U.S.
United States and the Eu- sanctions as a response to
ropean Union, Turkish Presi- “Turkey’s inconsistencies
dent Recep Tayyip Erdo- within NATO.”
gan said Friday that eco- Greek Prime Minister Kyria-
nomic penalties would be kos Mitsotakis said the EU
detrimental to all sides and took a strong step warning
that Turkey’s disputes with Turkey to “change behav-
its allies can be resolved ior.”
through dialogue and co- He said that, for Greece,
operation. sanctions were not a goal
Erdogan’s comments in and of themselves.
came hours after the EU “But the threat of sanctions
gave the green light for in case Turkey continues
the expansion of sanctions its provocative action is
against Turkey over its ex- the best tool we have at
ploration of gas reserves in our disposal,” he said. “We
eastern Mediterranean wa- don’t want Turkey to be a
ters claimed by EU mem- provocative and aggres-
bers Greece and Cyprus. sive neighbor. And I don’t
Turkey also faces US sanc- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks during a joint news conference with Azerbaijan’s believe this is to the benefit
tions over its purchase of a President Ilham Aliyev, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. Associated Press of Turkey or of Greece or of
Russian air defense system, Europe.”
which has already resulted in unilateral actions and March. sonable countries within Tensions between NATO
in the NATO-member being provocations and escalat- Turkey’s Foreign Ministry the EU asserted their posi- allies Turkey and Greece
kicked out of the U.S. F-35 ed its rhetoric against the slammed the EU deci- tive stance and spoiled escalated over the sum-
stealth fighter program. EU.” This was despite the sion, saying Ankara rejects their game.” mer with a military build-up
“We have deep-rooted fact that they had offered the 27-member group’s EU countries are split over after Turkey sent its seismic
political and economic re- trade and other incentives “biased and unlawful at- how best to handle Turkey. survey vessel Oruc Reis,
lations with both the United to Turkey to halt its activities titude.” It added that the France and Cyprus have escorted by navy frigates,
States and the European during their last summit in decision was approved out pushed for tougher mea- into disputed waters. The
Union, which neither side October, they said. of solidarity with Greece sures such as economic move prompted Greece to
can ignore or certainly risk The leaders tasked EU for- and Cyprus. sanctions, but other coun- also send its warships, and
losing,” Erdogan said in a eign policy chief Josep But Erdogan, speaking to tries are concerned about both countries conducted
teleconference address to Borrell with drawing up reporters earlier on Friday, further undermining the military exercises to assert
his ruling party’s officials. a report on the state of suggested that the deci- country’s already ravaged their claims.
“There is no issue that can- EU-Turkey political, eco- sion was less severe than economy and destabilizing Late last month, Oruc Reis
not be solved through dia- nomic and trade relations what Greece and Cyprus the region. returned to port, as it had
logue and cooperation.” and with suggesting how had hoped for. French President Emmanu- done before October’s EU
The EU leaders said early Fri- to proceed, including on “(The decision) did not el Macron, speaking in Brus- meeting. However, another
day that Turkey — which is a widening sanctions. Borrrell meet the expectations of sels after the EU summit said research ship, the Barbaros
candidate to join although was asked to submit the re- some countries, because Europe “remains obviously Hayreddin Pasa, remains
its membership talks are port to the leaders by the their demand was not just,” always open to dialogue off Cyprus’ southwestern
blocked — has “engaged time they hold a summit in Erdogan said. “Some rea- but won’t accept a policy coast.q

Report: Afghans losing hope for peace process amid violence

By TAMEEM AKHGAR talks between the Afghan groups have warned both
Associated Press government and the Tal- sides to avoid inflicting ci-
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — iban in Qatar had been at vilian casualties. Another
Optimism among Afghans an impasse until last week, 64% were also against any
regarding the country’s when in a breakthrough, fundamental reforms to the
peace process has de- the two sides agreed on structure of the country’s
creased significantly in the rules and procedures for security forces, something
past few months amid a the negotiations. the Taliban have insisted
spike in violence, accord- However, since the Af- on, saying these forces
ing to a survey released ghan-Taliban talks started were created by foreign
Friday. The Institute of War in September, violence has powers. The institute polled
and Peace Studies found spiked significantly. The Tal- 8,627 people across Af-
optimism had dropped to iban have staged deadly ghanistan’s 34 provinces —
57% when the survey was attacks on Afghan forces 58% men and 42% women
conducted from Sept. 29 to while keeping their prom- — and received funding to
Oct. 18. That’s down from ise not to attack U.S. and conduct the survey from
86% of those surveyed ac- NATO troops. The attacks the European Union and
cording to the previous as- have drawn a mighty re- the Swedish International In this Sept 14, 2020 file photo, families and friends of students
who were killed in local conflicts gather at the graves of their
sessment conducted over taliation by the Afghan air Development Cooperation relatives, adorned with their pictures, on the outskirts of Kabul,
the summer and released force, backed by U.S. war- Agency. The survey had a Afghanistan.
in August. Ongoing peace planes. International rights 5% margin of error.q Associated Press