Cihat Yaycı, former Turkish navy rear admiral and head of the Maritime and Global Strategies Center at Bahçeşehir University, drawing attention to the great danger behind the billion-dollar defense agreement between France and the USA with Greece, drew attention to the fact that the Greek government threatened Turkey with the nuclear power of France in line with its great "megaly ideals".
"They say that the only nuclear power of the EU is now behind us. This is an international crime. So they threaten to use nuclear power," Yaycı said.
Evaluating the equation in the Eastern Mediterranean to our newspaper and explaining the steps that Turkey should take, Yaycı also explained why the Eastern Mediterranean region is of vital importance for our country.
Why is the Eastern Mediterranean region important for Turkey? Why is this issue considered vital?
The Eastern Mediterranean is a region that has been given great importance from the past to the present... Karamanoğulları gave the region its name and called it the Karaman Sea. Again, our ancestors made a great effort for the conquest of both Cyprus and Rhodes. Atatürk also drew attention to the importance of the island of Cyprus and said, "Keep your eyes and ears on Cyprus." In the historical process, with the Treaty of Lausanne, the island of Cyprus is an aircraft carrier as described by foreigners. Cyprus Island is located in the middle of the Eastern Mediterranean, close to many countries and strategic regions. The Eastern Mediterranean has geopolitical, geostrategic and geoeconomic importance. It is valuable in three ways.
‘GREECE SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN EQUATION’
Greece, which has no coast in the Eastern Mediterranean, is infiltrating the region. Why do I say that Greece does not have a coast on the Eastern Mediterranean? They always perform a perception operation on us. They say; Meis, Rhodes, Crete Islands are Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece does not have a coast in the Eastern Mediterranean in terms of maritime jurisdiction areas. Because Greece is not an island country. It is not like the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan. The maritime jurisdiction limitation of Greece does not start from its islands. They present themselves as island states and limit themselves in this way. However, this is against international law. Therefore, Turkey should not address Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean. This is the first move to make. Greece should not be included in the Eastern Mediterranean equation. The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus declared an Exclusive Economic Zone in the early 2000s. It also declared an area thirty times its size. After that, it took the EU behind it. When Turkey took a step, the EU started to give us difficulties. Of course, everyone knows that the Greek Cypriot administration cannot have such a power.
Is the EU using the Greek Cypriot administration as an apparatus?
Definitely.
I would like to ask specifically about Egypt and Israel. How would you rate their place in this equation?
When Turkey's relations with Egypt deteriorated, Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration immediately approached Egypt. When Turkey excluded Egypt, Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration, who took advantage of Egypt's situation, provoked Egypt against us and a front emerged there. There is something interesting; Egypt is seriously developing its navy. Nobody is aware of this. Egypt is also a very pragmatic state. It is supported by both the USA and Russia. After Israel, Egypt is the country that receives the most military aid from the United States. It is also the country that receives the most military aid from Russia. So is Israel. Israel has two strategic partners, one is the USA and the other is Russia. Egypt was provoked against Turkey, but Egypt did not comply with them. The ties of brotherhood between Egypt and Turkey are also strong.
"THOSE WHO CONTROLS THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, CAN CONTROL THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA"
In terms of security, it is very clear that the powers that want to control a large part of the Middle East will want to dominate in Cyprus. We're seeing it today, too. The ports of the Greek Cypriot Administration are used by England, Russia, USA and France. Greece is already there. Those who control Cyprus controls the Eastern Mediterranean, and those who control the Eastern Mediterranean controls the Middle East and North Africa. This is such a basin that; Although the Mediterranean basin occupies one percent of the world's seas, thirty percent of world trade takes place here. This is how important it is from an economic point of view. There are also energy deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean. These resources are qualified to meet Turkey's 500-year needs.
Is it not in our Exclusive Economic Zone area?
Yes, I'm not just saying that. Turkey's major universities confirm this. In other words, the Eastern Mediterranean is very important in terms of energy. Let's say for once. We should think of the seas as land. The state has an economic country. This should be considered together with the seas. The economic country also includes maritime jurisdictions. To protect these limits, to use etc. We must do all of these. When we look at the current equation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the vitality of the issue appears. There is a struggle for influence between actors both in the region and outside the region. In this context, I would like you to evaluate the Eastern Mediterranean equation. Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, USA, France...
GREECE DOESN'T WAIT ITS GREAT “MEGALI IDEA”
Greece wants to establish a Greater Greece in line with its great "megali idea". First of all, they want to connect all the islands to Greece. This has already happened to a large extent. The second is the connection of Western Anatolia to Greece... They tried this in 1919, too. Again, from 1950 to 1963, to 1974, they tried to achieve this, but they failed. A month ago, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs held a meeting together and said, 'Our aim is Hellenism in Cyprus'. What does this mean? It means the Greekization of Cyprus. Again, there are ideals of capturing Istanbul and building a Vatican-type Patriarchate. Is it then possible to say that Greece has given up on its 'megalitarian ideas'?
GREEK GOVERNMENT THREATENS TURKEY WITH FRANCE'S NUCLEAR POWER
In addition, the Greek government threatens Turkey with the nuclear power of France. They say that the only nuclear power of the EU is now behind us. This is an international crime. Turkey should use this very well. In other words, they threaten other countries by using nuclear power. This needs to be protested and announced very clearly before the UN and the world public opinion.
TURKEY AND PALESTINE MAY AGREE ON SEA SHELF
There is such a perception about Israel, Mr. Yaycı. It is said that; Turkey's position at the point of transporting the energy in the area under Israeli domination to Europe is very important and Israel needs Turkey. Do you agree with this assessment?
This is the most economical route. Also, let me say this: We can also make a deal with Palestine. I prepared all the technical details of it, including its coordinates. It's the same format of the agreement with Libya... But there is no movement from ours or Palestine.
Is it possible to say that 'Turkey and Israel will reach an agreement sooner or later'?
It seems so. Israel is increasing its influence in the region by making agreements with Arab countries, but Israel needs Turkey. The math shows this.
USA, FRANCE AND ISRAEL DO NOT WANT TURKEY'S PRESENCE IN THE REGION
We see that although France and the USA are not countries in the region, they are trying to establish dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean through Greece. He also recently made billions of dollars defense agreements with the USA and France. What would your assessment be about this?
The reason for this is not Greek love, but Turkish dislike. France, in particular, does not want Turkey to influence the regions where it is active. They are uncomfortable with Turkey's presence in Africa, so they want to keep Turkey busy with the problems in the Eastern Mediterranean. The United States also does not want Turkey's presence in the region. Israel doesn't either. Why? Because Israel has a plan to establish a 'Greater Israel' and for this, Turkey needs to be divided. There is also an important issue. In this defense cooperation agreement between France and Greece, the event is very big. Are France, Greece and Turkey members of NATO? NATO member... Well, isn't the agreement signed between France and Greece stating that "an attack on me is an attack on you" already in NATO? Yes, item 5. Then why are you doing it? If you are targeting Turkey, it means that there are two countries in the NATO alliance targeting another NATO country.