Greece main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras has urged the European Union to prepare a package of sanctions against Turkey over its escalating challenges to Greek sovereignty. The interventions of the leader of left-wing SYRIZA came on the sidelines of the Eurosocialist Summit PES in Prague. Tsipras called on the EU …
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Greek PM: Sanctions against Russia must be adhered to by all NATO members
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made it clear that NATO’s mission to protect territorial integrity, human rights and international law is not merely empty rhetoric, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Addressing the NATO Summit in Madrid on Wednesday, he noted also that the sanctions decided against Russia …
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Russian assets have been seized in Greece, Anti-Money Laundering agency confirms
The head of Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has confirmed that seizures have been carried out on the assets of Russian individuals and companies over the invasion of Ukraine, in line with decisions of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union. Speaking to Kathimerini, agency chief Charalambos Vourliotis clarified …
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Mitsotakis tells Zenensky Greece supports tough sanctions against Russia, offers assistance
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday to express Greece’s full support. Greece backs tough sanctions against Russia over Ukraine attack, including SWIFT ban, and is preparing to send medical aid that is scheduled to leave the country today, media report. Just spoke …
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EU foreign ministers decide to sanction Turkey over Cyprus
European Union foreign ministers decided on Monday to impose sanctions on Turkey if Ankara’s actions and provocation continue against Cyprus. At a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, the Foreign Affairs Council has called on the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and the European Commission …
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EU freezes sanctions on Turkish oil executives as ties improve
The European Union (EU) has frozen plans to blacklist more senior executives at Turkey’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), four diplomats said Thursday, in the clearest sign that a diplomatic offensive by Ankara this year is bearing fruit, Reuters reported in an exclusive story.. EU leaders in December had proposed …
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FM Dendias: Sanctions against Turkey to remain on the table as a deterrent
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Wednesday that sanctions against Turkey need to remain on the European Union table as a tool to prevent new provocative and illegal actions. During the online Inter-Parliamentary Conference of the MED7 group, Dendias spoke of the “hybrid threats” to the region, mainly the instrumentalisation …
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Exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey resumed in Istanbul
Exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey resumed in Istanbul on Monday morning after they were interrupted in March 2016. The talks are not negotiations but a mere record of “bilateral disputes” they could discuss in the future even in the event of seeking a solution at the International Court of …
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Greece welcomes U.S. sanctions against Turkey
Greece has welcomed the US sanctions against two ministries and three officials of Turkey announced by the State Department on Monday. Greece welcomed the announced US sanctions against the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees. In a statement, the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry said, “Greece, a …
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United States sanctions Turkey over Russian missiles S-400
The US State Department announced on Monday that it imposes sanction to Turkey for the purchase and testing of Russian S-400 missiles. The sanctions are imposed under CAATSA 231. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that Turkey’s S-400 system risks U.S. military technology and personnel and …
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US Congress approves bill that sanctions Turkey over Russian S-400
U.S. Senate approved on Friday with 84-13 votes the 2021 NDAA bill that imposes mandatory sanctions on Turkey for its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air missile defense system as required under existing U.S. law, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The bill also strengthens U.S.-Greece defense cooperation …
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EU paves way for sanctions against Turkey over East med drilling
The European Union announced early Friday it has decided to impose additional sanctions on Turkish individuals and companies in the light of Turkey’s drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, the implementation of the sanctions will be discussed at the EU summit in March 2021. After long hours of negotiations …
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EU to toughen sanctions on Turkish drilling: Summit draft
The European Union will impose sanctions on more Turkish individuals and companies responsible for drilling in contested waters in the Mediterranean, according to a draft statement prepared for EU leaders to agree at a summit on Thursday. If agreed, the EU will “prepare additional listings” on the basis of a …
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Erdogan: EU sanctions will not have great impact for Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that any sanctions imposed by the European Union on Turkey will not have a great impact. He added that the bloc had never acted honestly or kept its promises. Ahead of an EU summit on Thursday, Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara …
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Turkey to conduct firing exercise between Rhodes and Kastellorizo
Turkey ‘s authorities on Friday issued a navigation warning (NAVTEX) for firing exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, in an area between the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo. Turkey announced that the live-fire navy exercises will take place on Dec. 9-10, just ahead of the European Council where possible sanctions …
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EUCO President Michel warns of EU sanctions against Turkey
The European Union and Turkey must stop the “game of cat and mouse,” European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday. EU “members will weigh sanctions against Turkey,” he added. Michel’s statement came as Turkey withdrew for one more time the exploration vessel Oruc Reis from “disputed waters” ahead of …
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Turkey sends Oruc Reis back to port. Is it enough to escape EU santions?
Turkey’s seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis returned to port of Antalya on on Monday morning from disputed Mediterranean waters, less than two weeks before a European Union summit where the bloc will evaluate possible sanctions against Ankara. Turkey withdrew Oruc Reis from contested waters ahead of a previous EU summit …
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European Parliament votes in favor of sanctions against Turkey
For the first time, the European Parliament, by a large majority, voted in favor of the strict imposition of sanctions on Turkey, adopting the amendment tabled by the Greek and Cypriot Delegations, at the initiative of Vangelis Meimarakis, Lefteris Christoforou and Loukas Fourlas. The result of the vote was 440 …
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Merkel won’t support sanctions against Erdogan despite latest provocations
Greece may want to push for sanctions against Turkey at the EU Summit on Thursday but Germany is determined to have her “liebling” ally Recep Tayyip Erdogan prevail with his aggressive and expansion policies. Greece has made clear that with Oruc Reis operating in Greek continental shelf, there can be …
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Turkey’s sanctions block EU FMs from imposing sanctions against Belarus
European Union foreign ministers failed to overcome a diplomatic standoff over Belarus sanctions on Monday due to lack of unanimity. Belarus main opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya travelled to Brussels to try to convince the EU to follow through on its threat to impose sanctions on some 40 Belarusian officials over …
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