This article was featured on the Greek language page of the internet news site, Euronews on July 29, 2022. Germany’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock was visiting the two neighboring countries of Greece and Turkey, which have conflicting interests in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as far as natural gas drilling rights are concerned, and on the divided island of Cyprus where both communities live, the Greeks in the internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus (ROC) in the south and the Turks in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Turkiye.

The article begins here [as translated by loc]:

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock caused a tense exchange of views today in Istanbul [translator note: The Greeks insist on using the former name Constantinople, which the translator has taken the liberty to change] with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Çavuşoğlu as she called on Turkiye to “respect” the decisions of the Council of Europe concerning human rights.

“The decision of the European Court for Human Rights as concerns Osman Kavala must be applied,” she insisted, referring to the Turkish philanthropist who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for actions which he denies completely. [translator note: According to a Reuters article of April 25, 2022, “Kavala was accused of financing nationwide protests in 2013 triggered by plans to redevelop Istanbul’s Gezi Park, and also of involvement in a failed coup in 2016.” An excellent article in the form of questions put to Kavala with his responses can be found at https://harvardpolitics.com/an-interview-with-turkish-political-prisoner-osman-kavala/ . It should be noted that Kavala studied in the both the UK and U.S., which immediately put him under suspicion as a possible enemy of Erdoğan.]

“Although it is difficult for you to hear this, it must be said,” the head of German diplomacy, who comes from the Green Party, and who is making her first visit to Turkiye, stated. Tomorrow she will travel to Ankara.

The members of the Council of Europe have requested Ankara repeatedly to “immediate[ly] release” Osman Kavala, following the decision of the European Court.

“Why does Germany encourage all the countries to exclude Turkiye from the Council of Europe,” Çavuşoğlu responded in the tense atmosphere before he enumerated the countries, which, according to him, are not complying with the decisions of the European entity for human rights: “Greece, France, Norway, Germany.”

“Why do you not remind Greece, but only Turkiye? Why do you mention Kavala? Because you are using him.” Continuing, Çavuşoğlu again blamed the entrepreneur and publisher [translator note: a reference to Kavala] that he “financed” the large, anti-government demonstrations of 2013.

Baerbock also warned of a “preventive” attack in northern Syria.

“A new clash will only cause new suffering in the population and the instability will serve Daesh,” insisted the German minister, using the Arabic acronym of the jihadist organization Islamic State [translator note: or ISIS].

“Turkiye has the right to defend itself but must only attack the criminals,” insisted Baerbock, at the same time, recognizing that for years Turkey has been confronting the terrorist attacks of the PKK,” the Workers’ Party of Kurdistan. [translator note: The EU considers the PKK to be a terrorist organization and therefore criminals.]

Ankara has been threatening here [translator note: in Turkey, from where this report was filed] for two months that it will conduct a military operation in order to defend its southern borders. [translator note: Ankara may be suffering the consequences of this threat when accused by some of having shelled the northern Iraq town of Perex on July 20. Cf. https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/125354824/posts/4162440698 Attack in northern Iraq: Turkiye Points to the PKK, Baghdad Accuses Ankara ; https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/125354824/posts/4164547887 Following Zaho Attack, Baghdad Demands Turkiye Withdraw Troops from Iraq, Ankara Maintains Right to Defend Against Terrorism, late July 2022 ]

Baerbock, who arrived in Istanbul from Athens, had called on Turkiye to respect Greek sovereignty of the Aegean islands, “which no one has the right to question.”

Responding, Çavuşoğlu assessed that “Germany must hold a balanced stance concerning the issues of the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean and to not play the game of Greek and Cypriot provocations and propaganda.”