EU protests: Greece ‘cannot trust EU’ and Germany to defend member states sovereignty
THE EU has been blasted for excluding Greece from its summit aimed at trying to resolve an escalating civil war in Libya.
World leaders including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Germany’s Angela Merkel have gathered in Berlin today. Mrs Merkel, who is hosting the meeting, wants to convince the two sides who are war to agree on a lasting ceasefire. But a solution is unlikely any time soon.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had called on Europe to support its work in Libya, where it is providing military support to the internationally recognised government, if it wants to end the conflict there.
Greek journalist Vassilis Nedos has argued Greece should have been involved in the talks.The EU showed that by choosing to appease Turkey (and Erdogan), rather than strongly and unequivocally defending the sovereignty of its member states (such as Greece and Cyprus), the EU is setting a dangerous precedent.
He wrote in Kathimerini: “The crises that Europe is now facing are not just internal disturbances, but they are at the core of the sovereignty of the Eastern Mediterranean states.
World leaders have gathered for a summit on Libya in Germany today (Image: GETTY)
“The Turkish-Cypriot pact directly affects Greece, in the broadest sense the Republic of Cyprus, but also affects Italian interests, even if they are not always harmonised with the Greek ones.
“In this multiplication, the only European power that has a role to play and that has some, at least primordial, response to the challenges raised is France.
Mr Nedos also blasted the EU for failing to defend the sovereignty of it member states.
The Greek government is said to consider the Turkey-Libya maritime borders memorandum a violation of international law, as well as an attack on Greece’s sovereign rights.
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Boris Johnson was also in attendance (Image: GETTY)
He wrote: “The exclusion of Greece from the Berlin Conference, a process which is an attempt to mediate with a German stamp, is a very serious act, or rather a reckless act.
“The European edifice has been cracking in recent years, with various movements such as this one becoming serious cracks.
“Who can trust a Europe that does not have the decisive ability and will to defend the sovereignty of its member states?
“The questions are relentless.”
Mr Nedos also blasted the EU for failing to defend the sovereignty (Image: GETTY)
Turkey supports the government of Fayez al-Serraj in Tripoli and describes Khalifa Haftar, who heads the eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), as a coup plotter.
Erdogan wrote: “Keeping in mind that Europe is less interested in providing military support to Libya, the obvious choice is to work with Turkey, which has already promised military assistance.
He added: “We will train Libya’s security forces and help them combat terrorism, human trafficking and other serious threats against international security.”
Before the summit, the Turkish president spoke by phone with its host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to discuss developments in Libya and the region, Erdogan’s office said.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had called on Europe for support (Image: GETTY)
In a sign of tensions surrounding the Libyan issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised Greece for hosting Haftar ahead of the summit in a tweet directed at Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
He wrote on Twitter: “Inviting Haftar to Greece and highlighting Greek national agenda sabotage the efforts to bring peace to Libya. We would like to remind our Greek friends that these futile efforts are in vain. @NikosDendias.”
Haftar and Serraj are both in Berlin – along with Erdogan and the leaders of Russia, Egypt and other Western and Arab powers.
Erdogan said that if Libya’s legitimate government were to fall, Islamist militant groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda “will find a fertile ground to get back on their feet”.
Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Sudanese and Chadian fighters, and most recently Russian mercenaries. France has also given some support.
On the other side, Turkey has supported Serraj by sending troops to balance out recent gains by Russian snipers. Hundreds of pro-Turkey fighters from Syria’s war have also been deployed, diplomats say.