Η άποψη της άλλης πλευράς

BARÇIN YİNANÇ

BARÇIN YİNANÇ

barcin.yinanc@hurriyet.com.tr

Economic crisis; a curse or a blessing for Turkish-Greek relations

A recent statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry created a sort of “nostalgic” effect on me.

According to the statement made on Feb. 22, Greece notified the United Nations of Turkey’s granting of exploration permits for areas of the Greek continental shelf.

I recalled writing a lot of news articles in the first decade of my career in the 90’s that would deal with the contention between Turkey and Greece on the “continental shelf” issue. When I saw Greece’s statement, I just could not remember when the last time was in the last decade that I wrote anything about this issue.

As Greece’s statement was shortly followed by an official reaction from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the thought of whether Turkey and Greece might go back to past confrontational periods quickly crossed my mind.

Ironically, there were not many newspapers in Turkey that published the statements. Actually, most preferred news pieces about the visit of the Greek Prime Minister, with a big delegation, scheduled for March 4. Ankara and Athens are planning to sign nearly 20 agreements, said the news. So, it looked as if the two capitals decided to continue with the “engagement” policy that dominated their relations much of the last decade.

But then how to explain these reciprocal (negative) statements just ahead of a visit that is expected to give a new push to improved ties between the two countries?


When you take into consideration the energy background, at first glance there seems to be reason to be worried about potential tension between the two capitals. Crippled under an economic crisis, Greece’s need for cheaper energy is more acute than ever, while the same need is also valid for Turkey, since with a growing economy, its energy demand in terms of quantity is even bigger than that of Greece.

There is recently a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean. The discoveries by Greek Cypriots and Israelis have generated excitement while Turkey seems to be shifting its exploration activities from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. But the experts I have talked to as well as reports I have read do not indicate a potential reason for “war.” It is therefore a bit difficult to understand the timing of the Greek government’s decision to complain to the UN about a step Turkey took last summer, just ahead of a high-profile visit by the Greek prime minister.

Turkish officials seem to be convinced that this was done for domestic purposes, in order to silence those “ultra-nationalist-radical” circles that cannot accept the idea that Greece has fallen into a position where a former “foe” is now offering to help.

It looks like the economic crisis poses a dilemma in Turkish-Greek relations: On the one hand, it is only to the benefit of Greece to improve its relations with the big market to its east as one of the ways out of the economic crisis. Yet the same economic crisis that becomes a critical motivation in furthering relations also becomes an obstacle, since economic hardship feeds ultra-nationalism and radicalism leading to opposition to cooperation with Turkey.

Time will tell whether economic crises will be a curse or a blessing for Turkish-Greek relations. The fact that both countries finished their reciprocal statements about the continental shelf issue with their desire to maintain good relations leaves room for optimism.

March/05/2013

READER COMMENTS

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george maroutsos 3/5/2013 10:01:59 PM The question that Ms. Barcin and every other Turkish luminary seem to avoid is: ‘What is the extent of the Turkish territorial waters in the Aegean, and what is it in the Black Sea”. The rest of it is “literature”.

Peter Kypros 3/5/2013 6:26:12 PM Application of International treaties and EU principles is the only solution that is fair and sustainable both for Aegean and Cyprus.

Pawel Bury 3/5/2013 1:45:30 PM The continental shelf issue is not a GR-TR problem. EU's economic crises will help these issues to be resolved. EU's frontier is Greece and Greek EEZ is the largest in EU. So EU will eventually have to take advantage of Greek and Cypriot natural resources cause simply she needs cheaper energy. Through Cypriot and Greek EEZ they will manage to develop a supply pipeline without the interference of a non-EU country. This is also good for Turkey cause she 'll be able to buy cheaper from Greece - EU.

dogan kemal ileri 3/5/2013 6:09:36 AM There are no issues that Greece and Turkiye can not thrash out but the spoke in the wheel has always been the Greek Cypriots. On the issue of the Agean sea there is only one solution 50-50. Its quite simple.

Thessalonian 3/5/2013 12:54:48 AM Greece is adhering to international law as opposed to Turkey regarding the 12 mile sea delineation limit. It has been said that Turkey is doing so in the Black sea. The latter indicates preferentially selective and self serving behaviour on the latter's behalf. Ultimately, Greece desires an internationally binding arbitrated solution, as indicated by having the matter brought forward to the UNSC. What does Turkey desire? This matter will eventually be between the EU and Turkey. Regards HURRIYET-DAILY NEWS   March/05/2013