A policy of fear?
Kathimerini’s exclusive interview with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan served to confirm the fact that Turkish violations in the Aegean have one aim: that of contesting the existing air and sea borders between Greece and Turkey – an area where ambiguities exist. In the interview, Erdogan made it clear that this is Turkey’s policy and expressed his conviction that solutions can be reached through negotiations… One type of response to Turkish violations has its roots in a nationalist ideology on which the modern Greek state was founded: According to this outlook, Greece defines itself in opposition to its neighboring states, particularly Turkey. But due to this, we have shaped our foreign policy under the pressure of fear, so it is de facto negative and defensive. Another possible response is that of accepting that there are indeed certain ambiguities regarding our borders with Turkey, and sitting down to resolve them. And we must concede that our differences – when taken out of the general context of antagonism – are not actually so serious. It is not certain that we will achieve a solution that is equally satisfactory to both sides but we will get nowhere without making a positive and confident effort. This makes up an alternative approach toward foreign policy…
