The manner in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s latest speech on the crisis in the East Mediterranean was reflected in Turkish media is a prime example of how facts and the perception of these facts contradict each other, a situation which we are being served in spades these days.
The mounting tensions between Turkey and Greece in the East Mediterranean...
It is of vital importance that the words of the German chancellor are correctly interpreted, especially in a situation where Turkey is a primary actor and which also includes war scenarios.
Especially if Greece is putting on airs, where it has no business to do so.
MERKEL WAS ACTUALLY REFERRING TO THE DISPUTE BETWEEN GERMANY AND FRANCE
I’m not claiming that Merkel was acting as an ally of Turkey’s, but to think that those words were articulated in support of Greece, it somehow doesn’t fit with the intention of the person who uttered them.
Now, let us try to read between the lines and analyze what she was actually saying.
During the press conference a reporter reiterating French President Emannuel Macron’s overt support of Greece in the Mediterranean crisis and asks, “How do you evaluate France’s stance?”
As she starts to answer questions, she delves into the subject as such:
“As EU member states, we are all obliged to take very seriously the claims raised by our Greek friends and support them when they are in the right. Similarly, I have repeatedly stepped in to prevent tensions from further mounting and this is only possible if we keep speaking to both sides.”
Because the question was about France’s attitude, it wouldn't be wrong to interpret the whole of Merkel’s answer as to where France and Germany differ in their opinions.
Even though she didn’t do this blatantly, everyone who is able to read between the lines can see what she really meant to say.
When Merkel says that the EU needs to support Greece, she also adds, “When they are in the right.”
So even if it may be indirectly, she’s trying to say that there are points in which Greece is in the wrong and Turkey is right.
Can we say that this is befitting of a mediator role?
Yes, it certainly is possible.
However, what makes her words even more important is that they reveal how deep the rift really is between France and Germany.
Hence, instead of interpreting Merkel’s statements as “A Crusade was declared against Turkey,” it would be more prudent to infer that “Merkel expressed matters of dispute with France in a diplomatic manner.”
To strengthen this theory, let’s take a look at the rest of Merkel’s answer to the reporter.
“And discussions regarding the sharing of economic zones there can only be carried out together. This is what Germany is striving to do. I have had intense conversations with President Macron about the relations with Turkey, which are multilateral. Turkey is a NATO member; this dispute is between two NATO members; we cannot ignore this, and even for this reason alone we need to try and resolve matters within the bloc.”
What conclusions can be inferred from these statements?
First thing’s first, we can derive that the “differences in opinion” between France and Germany, Europe's two superpowers, which have been growing ever more distinct, have resurfaced once more in the East Mediterranean and the tensions between Turkey and Greece.
This is the cardinal point in the matter.
Secondly, the emphasis put on the fact that Turkey is a NATO member just as Greece is, it can be inferred that Merkel meant: “We can’t make an enemy of Turkey just because Greece is a member of the EU.”
Thirdly, we can conclude from the NATO emphasis that Merkel is at odds with France on this particular matter.
I’d like to reiterate that it was Germany that was the country most perturbed by French President Emmanuel Macron saying that “NATO is brain dead” in late 2019.
We can wrap up everything we’ve said so far by concluding:
Merkel’s latest speech shows that the EU does indeed have its disputes and that deeming them as a bloc that adopts a “one for all and all for one” policy would be incorrect.
