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No joint patrol in the Aegean Sea between Turks and Greeks

Alexis Tsipras in conversation with Martin Schulz (PE) and JC Juncker (CE) at the last European Council (credit: CUE)
Alexis Tsipras in conversation with Martin Schulz (PE) and JC Juncker (CE) at the last European Council (credit: CUE)

(B2) Alexis Tsipras made this clear at the European summit. To the idea defended by Berlin - and Brussels - of joint Greek-Turkish patrols in the Aegean Sea, it's no! Collaborating with Turkey on the basis of international law is possible. But " Border control and management are the exclusive responsibility of member countries, which have the first and last word. Each country is responsible for guarding its borders declared the Greek Prime Minister.

Same story for the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Níkos Kotzias, describing " unacceptable » the idea of ​​joint Greek-Turkish patrols in the Aegean Sea which « pave the way for the entry of Turkish vessels into Greek territorial waters with all the long-term consequences that flow from this ". Greece prefers to reinforce the forces of the Frontex agency.

(NGV)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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