Berlin: Equal distances between Athens and Ankara

Call for dialogue between Athens and Ankara despite recent statements by Erdogan. government spokesman Kr. Hoffman. This was preceded by statements by government spokesman St. Hempstrait.

Clarifications from the German government were sought today in a government briefing on the appointment of government spokesman Stephen Hempstrait last week on the Greek-Turkish issue, following recent Turkish provocations in the Aegean but the unprecedented verbal aggression said Kyriako Mitsotaki.

Stephen Hempstrait called on Greece and Turkey last Wednesday to “bridge their differences”, a statement that was interpreted by many as keeping equal distances between the two countries, as Turkish aircraft over the Aegean continue to fly over Greece. sovereign rights in the Aegean.

Greek-Turkish equation?

At today’s government briefing, Stephen Hempstreet was absent due to a coronavirus disease, but journalists returned to the issue with persistent questions. Asked by a Greek journalist who was asked “to whom the Hempwright appeal is addressed”, Deputy Government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann initially said that “the German government is closely monitoring the situation and what is being said”, also calling on the two to reach an agreement. through dialogue “especially in the context of NATO. Christiane Hoffman essentially repeated the so-called Hebstraight about “dialogue” between NATO partners. “(My colleague)’s words are clear, they are still valid,” Hoffmann said.

Thus, there was neither a reshuffle nor a “deepening” of the German government’s attitude towards the conflict between the two countries. The deputy government spokeswoman also declined to comment on journalistic assessments of an “equalization” of a country that is aggressive with the host country.

Residence permit for Russian dissidents

In the wider context of the Greek-Turkish, there was also a question about the acquisition by Turkey of six state-of-the-art submarines – one has already been launched – from a country that has open “fronts” and while the submarines can theoretically be used only in its region. Eastern Mediterranean / Aegean. The government briefing, however, did not provide further information on when exactly the other five submarines will be delivered to Turkey. As pointed out by the representative of the competent Ministry of Finance Anika Eichord, the approval and delivery of submarines are two separate processes.

Among the other issues raised in the government briefing, special emphasis was placed on the issue of granting special residence permits in Germany to Russian dissidents, journalists in independent Russian media and human rights activists who are at risk of persecution or fear for their lives.

The competent Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Culture are currently examining the procedure that will be followed for the issuance of respective residence permits, while as stressed, the interested parties should have some relationship with Germany, but without further clarifications. The number of Russian citizens who intend to take advantage of the German “invitation” also remains unclear.

Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle