“Dancing with death in Mosul” Consequences of Turkey’s Claim on Mosul: Iranian Parliamentarians.

“Dancing with death in Mosul” Consequences of Turkey’s Claim on Mosul: Iranian Parliamentarians. (IFPnews).

“Dancing with death in Mosul”, “Erdogan’s dizziness in the Middle East equation” and “reopening old wounds by the fantasy of the Ottoman Empire”; these are part of the remarks made by a number of Iranian MPs about Turkey’s paradoxical behaviour in dealing with Takfiri [extremist] terrorism.

Iranian Parliament member, Seyyed Mohammad Javad Abtahi pointed to the formation of ISIS and Turkey’s recent actions and said, “The US had plans to create a country from Mosul to Aleppo; however, their plot began to fall apart thanks to the achievements of Syrian and Iraqi armies, Popular Mobilization Forces and the Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition.”

He added that Americans claim their share of Mosul operation because Washington, with the aid of Saudis’ media outlets, has shown a strong inclination to introduce itself as the saviour of Iraq, especially to the Sunni Muslims.

Abtahi appreciated the attempts made by Iraqi Prime Minister to preserve the territorial integrity of his country and said, “The ideology of reviving the decaying Ottoman Empire will breed undesired consequences.”

“Raising the claim that Mosul historically belongs to Turkey is pretty dangerous and can create new tensions between the countries in the Middle East,” Abtahi warned.


He stressed that Mosul operation progressed faster than expectations and noted, “Saudi media try to question the achievements of Mosul operation; however, the point is that Baghdad never carries out military operations on an impulse.”

Javad Karimi Qoddousi, another Iranian parliamentarian, said that Turkey seems to be puzzled by the Middle East equations; its behaviour is mingled with paradox and lacks a clear strategy.
“Ankara used to take steps circumspectly but today, it has become an impulsive Turkey making rash decisions,” he added.

Another MP Jahanbakhsh Mohebbinia, on the other hand, said that the fantasy of reviving the Ottoman Empire has wasted a colossal amount of Turkey’s social, financial and security assets.

“Ankara’s violation of Iraq’s territorial integrity is actually playing with fire and its flames will blow back to Turkey’s face,” he stressed.

Lawmaker Gholam-Ali Jafarzadeh referred to Ankara’s interactions with and its aids to ISIS and noted, “Turkey is now paying the price by grappling with terrorist operations and insecurity within its borders.”

Jafarzadeh stressed that Ankara is actually reopening old wounds by claiming that Mosul historically belongs to Turkey.


“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never had any intentions for seizing other countries’ resources and it has always worked as a surgeon trying to remove the cancerous ISIS,” he said.  Hmmm.....Iran just saying 'Make my day'....... Do you feel lucky punk? Update:

Barzani office:"we r not entitled 2conclude deals on Iraq sovereignty or defense matters.Only Baghdad is". @Hayder_alKhoei @odriscoll_dylan

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) November 2, 2016

ICF Spokesman US LT Colonel Dorrian: 'Turkish soldiers’ presence in Iraq is illegal'

ICF Spokesman US LT Colonel Dorrian: 'Turkish soldiers’ presence in Iraq is illegal' (ANF).

US Lieutenant Colonel John Dorrian, the spokesperson for the International Coalition Forces in Iraq, stated that Turkish soldiers on Iraqi soil were not part of the ‘International Coalition Forces’ that assist the Iraqi Government in their fights against ISIS.

Dorrian said "The Turkish army on Iraqi soil is illegal and has not enter the country with the official permission of the Iraqi government. Several countries that are part of the International Coalition Forces are in Iraq due to the permission of the Iraqi Government. These countries support the Iraqi army in the fight against ISIS."

PARLIAMENT: OCCUPATION


Iraqi Parliament had described Turkey’s military presence in Iraq as ‘occupation’ yesterday, and decided to apply to the United Nations (UN), International Security Council and the Arab League for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraqi soil.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry rejected claims by Erdogan that Ankara will participate in the Mosul liberation operation.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry rejected claims by Erdogan that Ankara will participate in the Mosul liberation operation. (AW).

Iraqi foreign ministry rejected claims by the Turkish President that Ankara will participate in the Mosul liberation operation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on Sunday that his country will take part in the operation saying Ankara “cannot be left off the table."

"Turkey cannot be left off the table. The others don’t have such a border [with Iraq]. They may want us to stay as spectators but that decision is also going to be made here,” the Turkish president said.

The Iraqi foreign ministry rejected the remarks as flagrant interference in Iraq’s internal affairs and a breach of principles of good neighborliness.

"Such a statement strains the bilateral ties,” the spokesman said referring to Erdogan’s comments.

Iraqi army is preparing for an “imminent” operation to liberate Mosul from ISIS control.

The second largest city of Iraq fell to ISIS domination in 2014 and is regarded as the terrorist group’s headquarters in the country.

Iraq's ministry spokesman also highlighted that Turkey has ignored Baghdad’s calls for the withdrawal of Turkish forces already deployed on Iraqi soil.

Ankara, in December 2015, first deployed about 150 soldiers equipped with heavy weapons and backed by two dozen tanks to Bashiqa, located on the outskirts of Mosul. It claimed the deployment was part of a mission to train and equip Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS. Baghdad rejected the claim, saying it did not need the Turkish military assistance in the fight. Hmmmm....Neo Ottoman invader Turkey dropping finally it's mask.

The resolution to deploy #Turkey troops in Syria & Iraq doesn't mention #ISIL #AlQaeda, but rather says threats posed by all terror groups

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 1, 2016

Iraqi MPs: 'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey aims to invade Iraq with the extended mandate.

Iraqi MPs: 'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey aims to invade Iraq with the extended mandate. (anf).

Iraqi parliamentarians reacted against Turkish soldiers’ presence in Iraq and said Turkey was invading Iraqi territory and will be an obstacle in liberating the Ninova region.

Resul Tayi from Ahrar Group and Firdews Ewadi from State of Law Group in the Iraqi parliament have issued written statements on the Turkish state’s military presence in Iraqi territory.

Ahrar Group parliamentarian Resul Tayi’s statement read:

“We were expecting the Turkish parliament to withdraw troops from Iraqi territory, not extend the mandate. The presence of Turkish military forces in the province Ninova will be a problem and an obstacle in liberating Ninova. Turkey’s aim is to invade Mosul. This is why Iraqi armed forces must have a clear stance against this situation.”

State of Law Group parliamentarian Firdews Ewadi said standing against Turkish military forces in Iraqi territory was a duty to the fatherland and also meant fighting against ISIS gangs, and his statement read:

“The continued presence of the Turkish soldiers on Iraqi territory is the continuation of the invasion. They must respect the demands of the Iraqi parties and leave the region. The Iraqi government must display a strict stance against Turkish and Erdoğan’s invasion because they are acting out of an Ottoman dream. The US is also responsible for the Turkish military presence in Iraqi territory.”  Hmmm.....Obama's BFF Erdogan.  More here.

The resolution to deploy #Turkey troops in Syria & Iraq doesn't mention #ISIL #AlQaeda, but rather says threats posed by all terror groups

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 1, 2016

Video - Roasting Turkey: First Ever Hollywood Film About Armenian Genocide Debuts in Toronto.

Roasting Turkey: First Ever Hollywood Film About Armenian Genocide Debuts in Toronto. (Showbizz).

“Our revenge will be to survive, and have children,” rallies the mayor of an Ottoman city whose Armenian population is targeted for annihilation in Terry George’s “The Promise” — “…and one day, to make movies,” he might as well add, since that is ultimately what “The Promise” is about: Aiming to do for the 1915 Armenian Genocide what “Doctor Zhivago” did for the Russian Revolution, this sweeping romantic epic intends to dramatize a dark chapter so often denied and so seldom depicted onscreen — and yet, the events in question deserve better than a sloggy melodrama in which the tragedy is forced to take a backseat to a not especially compelling love triangle.

“The Promise”– the first ever Hollywood movie about the Armenian genocide of 1915-17– debuted last night in Toronto to standing ovation. Famed director Terry George made the film, funded by late billionaire Kirk Kerkorian– starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac. The sweeping epic is gorgeous, beautifully acted, and exacting in its laying blame on Turkey for exterminating 1.5 million Armenians.

The movie is notable because this week is the 100th anniversary of the genocide, the first Holocaust of the 20th century. “The Promise” also raises questions about the current waves of ethnic cleansing coming from Syria and the immigration of millions of refugees.

“The Promise” also serves as a counterpoint to the evacuation of millions of Jews from Russia around the same time, the story that most of us know from “Fiddler on the Roof.”

George, whose “Hotel Rwanda” is a modern classic, couldn’t film in Turkey as he once did in Africa. So he used Spain and Malta to re-create the Armenians’ tragedy, and the results are stunning. Read the full story here.

Russia voices profound concern over Turkish troops’ movement into Syrian territory.

Russia voices profound concern over Turkish troops’ movement into Syrian territory. (Tass).

The Russian Foreign Ministry has voiced profound concern over the Turkish troops’ movement into Syrian territory.

"Russia’s Foreign Ministry expresses serious concern in connection with the movement of the Syrian troops and paramilitary formations of the Syrian opposition, supported by them, inside Syrian territory," the ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

"We are paying attention to the fact that these actions are being conducted without coordination with the legitimate Syrian authorities and without approval on the part of the UN Security Council," it said.

"This puts in question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic," the statement said.

"With account for that, the position of Damascus appears fair and justified from the international-legal viewpoint," it said.

"We are proceeding from the fact that Turkey’s actions may additionally complicate the already difficult military-political situation in Syria, negatively affect the international efforts to develop a platform of settlement ensuring a more stable nature of the regime of cessation of hostilities, uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid laying the foundation for a solid peace and helping overcome the crisis in that country," the ministry said.

Moscow called on Ankara to "place these tasks higher that the immediate military tactical goals and abstain from steps fraught with further destabilization of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic."

Turkey’s Armed Forces and the FSA currently control the 90-kilometer line along the border between the cities of Azaz and Jarabulus up to 4-5 kilometers deep. But the operation command’s plans include expansion of the zone liberated from the IS further to the south.

Hmmm.....Lavrov never trusted Erdo in the first place.

FM Lavrov: 'As For The Restoration Of Trust...Much Will Depend On Turkish Cooperation In Settling The Syrian Crisis' https://t.co/tutXnny70y

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) August 9, 2016

Moscow- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: We must make sure Turkey doesn't use military presence in Syria to bolster terrorist groups there.

— Amir Taheri (@AmirTaheri4) August 25, 2016

In Yerevan, experts report on the danger of Turkey's interference in Karabakh conflict.

In Yerevan, experts report on the danger of 'Sometimes NATO Ally' Turkey's interference in Karabakh conflict. (CaucasianKnot).

Baku accumulates armed forces in Nakhichevan with the aim to involve Turkey into conflict with Armenia. This opinion was voiced by Armenian experts. However, according to them, Turkey is expected to provide only indirect support, since NATO will keep the country from direct intervention in the conflict.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night of April 2, the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone was escalated. The parties to the conflict were engaged in combat actions with the use of tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, and aircrafts, which resulted in a large number of victims.

On April 5, the sides to the conflict declared a truce; however, they periodically accuse each other of violation of agreements on ceasefire. On May 6, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs Koryun Nagapetyan told journalists in Yerevan that Azerbaijan had been accumulating military vehicles in Nakhichevan.

Azerbaijan is trying to play the card of Nakhichevan to provoke Turkey to intervene in the conflict. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by political analyst Ruben Megrabyan, an expert of the Armenian Centre for Political and International Studies.

Ruben Megrabyan did not rule out that in case of resumption of war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan will strike from the area of Nakhichevan deep into Armenia.

"The attack will be followed by a response of its armed forces, and that can provoke a Turkey's intervention in the conflict," Ruben Megrabyan has explained.

According to turkologist Levon Ovsepyan, Researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, it is unlikely that Turkey will be directly involved in hostilities against Armenia. Although, according to Levon Ovsepyan, "the actions of the Turkey's authorities are unpredictable and aggressive enough."

Levon Ovsepyan believes that NATO can play a role in retention of the Turkey's intervention in the conflict. Meanwhile, according to the expert-turkologist, Turkey will support Azerbaijan indirectly, as it was repeatedly stated by Turkish politicians.


Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Turkey's current destructive role doesn't change, they are seeking to restore "the past might of the Ottoman Empire," Zakharova

Hopes for early changes in Turkey's current destructive role futile, they are seeking to restore "the past might of the Ottoman Empire," Zakharova. (Tass).

Any hopes for early changes in the Turkish government's current destructive position in the international arena should be perished, believes Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"What could I possibly say about Turkey? We exercised patience for a very long time although we were perfectly aware of the policies the Turkish government was conducting, including the policies towards Crime and the Syrian peace settlement," she said. Everything it does only intensifies this destructiveness."

Russia did everything in its power to resolve the differences with Turkey through negotiations, Zakharova said.

"Unfortunately, all of it bumps into the incumbent Turkish government," she indicated. "There's an impression it is striving to restore the previous might of the Ottoman Empire in one way or another, or at least that's the picture all the elements of its current policies combine into."

"All of us known what kind of a finale the Ottoman Empire ended up in," she said. "Unfortunately, we can see an absolutely destructive role of the Turkish government on every track, be it Crimea, Syria, refugees, terrorism, ethnic problems, and so on."

 she said in an interview the daily Izvestia published on Wednesday.Read the full story here.

Video - live feed of today's BrookingsFP event with Pres Erdogan.

Turkey suppresses Kurds under pretext of fighting terrorism. Lavrov.

Russia says 'Herren Volk' Turkey suppresses Kurds under pretext of fighting terrorism. (Tass).

Anakara is hindering Kurdish forces in their fight against Islamic State and using the slogan of a “war against terrorism” to suppress Kurdish organizations in Syria and Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Referring to the Turkish border, he stressed a need to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions demanding a halt of trade in artifacts and oil with Islamic State and to stop “terrorists” from crossing into Syria, including from Turkey. Read the full story here.

Illegal oil traffic across Syrian-Turkish border continues — Lavrov.

Illegal oil traffic across Syrian-Turkish border continues — Lavrov. (Tass).

Illegal oil traffic across the Syrian-Turkish border is still observed, Moscow insists on full compliance with UN Security Council resolutions demanding cessation of trade with terrorists, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday following talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The top diplomat noted that the ongoing traffic across the Turkish border was observed in both directions.

 "However, after our Aerospace Forces initiated the operation to terminate the illegal traffic, particularly, of oil and oil products from Syria, from the areas controlled by ISIS (former name of the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia) to Turkey, this traffic has decreased substantially," he said.

Lavrov added that after the Russian Aerospace Forces paid special attention to this problem, "members of the U.S.-led coalition responded to it."

"In general, although this flow has not run dry altogether, it has decreased considerably," the minister said. "Nevertheless, it is still there. The sector of the border between two Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria is actively used.

The Russian foreign minister drew attention to the fact that when Kurds were trying to win back territory from the Islamic State group, "artillery bombardments of Kurdish positions were conducted from the Turkish side thus hampering their fight against this terrorist group."

Resolutions musts be complied with

"We insist on compliance with UN Security Council resolutions demanding to stop trade with ISIS and other terrorists just as resolutions demanding an end to the flow of foreign terrorists, gunmen via Turkish territory to Syria," Lavrov added.

He noted that these resolutions were binding and envisaged constant accountability of the UN Secretary-General. "The first such report was submitted to the UN Security Council a couple of weeks ago," the minister said. "We took note of the fact that it is non-specific and does not even mention the facts that confirm that the activities of the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and related terrorist groups are fuelled via Turkish territory.

"I hope this is some technical error rather than attempts to show political correctness to the party, which refuses to effectively embark on the fight against terrorism and, what’s more, uses the slogan of fighting against terrorism to suppress the Kurdish organizations in Syria as well as on its own territory," he said. "We will continue to insist that (UN) resolutions are fully complied with. I am sure no one can have any excuses on this matter."

Related?

#Brussels blasts may force #Russia to reconsider some priorities — PM https://t.co/FCQY0yzqhW

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 23, 2016

Hollande vows 'no concessions' to 'Islamist' Turkey on rights, visas in migrant deal.

Hollande vows 'no concessions' to 'Islamist' Turkey on rights, visas in migrant deal. (Yahoo).

French President Francois Hollande said Saturday that the EU must not grant Turkey any concessions on human rights or visas in exchange for guarantees to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

"There cannot be any concessions on the matter of human rights or the criteria for visa liberalisation," Hollande told reporters ahead of the resumption next week of tough negotiations between Turkey and the EU in Brussels.

Hollande spoke after meeting in Paris on Saturday with more than a dozen social democrat leaders from the EU, including Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

Turkish whistle blower claims Erdogan Ordered not prevent refugee flow to Europe.

Turkish whistle blower claims Erdogan Ordered not prevent refugee flow to Europe. HT @AbdullahBozkurt

According to insider @fuatavni_f, #Turkey president #Erdogan believes the more refugees flock to Europe, the more money he would ask of #EU

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) March 12, 2016

Whistleblower @fuatavni_f claims Interior Minister Efkan Ala ordered by #Turkey president #Erdogan to not prevent refugee flow to Europe

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) March 12, 2016

#Turkey president @RT_Erdogan calls journos who call on @NATO & #EU for action as agents of influence, contractors, acting in espionage

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) March 11, 2016

#Turkey president spox @ikalin1 scolds retired US envoys, says days of giving orders to #Turkey is over @BPC_Bipartisan

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) March 11, 2016

The case of Turkey's mysterious disappearing refugees.

The case of Turkey's mysterious disappearing refugees. HT: Balkanist.

It seems nothing short of phenomenal that the European Union has not considered the discrepancy between refugee registration and refugee tracking in its dealings with Turkey—nor the large group of vulnerable individuals fleeing through Turkey from conflicts outside Syria. Frantic negotiations set to continue this weekend will be based around bargaining for Turkey to prevent this large number of Syrian refugees from entering Europe, many of whom are already there. Read the full story here.

Doubts arise over Turkish refugee numbers while the EU is being strong armed into an impossible deal https://t.co/ERzR3VXoU1

— Peter Nut (@nipped) March 9, 2016

Turkey already blowing up EU deal on refugees, saying it won’t take back migrants & refugees from Greek islands.

Turkey already blowing up EU deal on refugees, saying it won’t take back migrants & refugees from Greek islands. HT :  KeepTalkingGreece. (Yahoo).

The EU-Turkey deal is getting better day by day… Turkey will not take back migrants and refugees already on Greek islands under a deal proposed to European Union leaders at a crunch summit this week, Ankara’s EU affairs minister said Thursday.

Minister Volkan Bozkir was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying :

Turkey would take back “tens of thousands” of migrants, “not hundreds of thousands or millions”, and they would “not include the existing refugees on the Greek islands”.

Bozkir said the offer did not include migrants already on the Greek islands and sounded a note of caution about how many people Turkey, which already hosts 2.7 million Syrian refugees, would take back.

“It would be more accurate to say the number of migrants to be returned to Turkey in the event of a readmission agreement with the EU will be thousands or tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands or millions,” Bozkir added.

A week before the crucial EU Summit on the Refugee and Migration Crisis, Minister Bozkir apparently wants to limit the number of migrants Turkey will take from the Greek islands.

As for the refugees on the Greek islands… apparently he wants to take none.
Bozkir’s statements quoted here. Hmmm.........You can't make deals with dictators and blackmailers. Read the full story here.

"We are giving the keys of Europe to Sultan Erdogan" liberal ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt.

"We are giving the keys of Europe to Sultan Erdogan" liberal ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt. (HLN). (ALDEgroup)

"We give the entrance keys to the gates of Europe to the successors of the Ottoman Empire: to Erdogan, Sultan Erdogan."

 During today's debate on the EU-Turkey agreement, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt voiced strong criticism:

"We need practical arrangements with Turkey, but with this deal we try to outsource our problems. We give the entrance keys to the gates of Europe to the successors of the Ottoman Empire: to Erdogan, Sultan Erdogan."

Agreement goes against Geneva Convention

"Europeans will block all refugees who are looking for protection and it will be Turkey and Erdogan who will decide on an individual basis who is a political refugee and who is not, who can enter in Europe and who not."

"I find this hugely problematic. This is a type of collective 'refoulement' forbidden by the Convention of Geneva."

" Turkey has not fully adhered to the Geneva Convention and is rapidly falling into autocracy."

Agreement will not reduce smuggling

"This agreement will dramatically reduce the legal entry points into the Union,  forcing desperate refugees to look for other routes. We will see again the revival of the Lampedusa route. A new Malta route. A new Albanian route. A new Bulgarian route."

ALDE Vice President Sophie in 't Veld said: 

"The EU-Turkey deal is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness of the European Union. This deal is morally reprehensible. the fruit of short-term thinking, not a solution for the long term. Apparently the national leaders prefer a dubious deal with an authoritarian leader, rather than to show courage, vision and to take responsibility for a fully-fledged and sustainable European asylum policy."

Three pillars necessary to get a grip on the crisis

Verhofstadt urged the Council to roll out a European strategy based on three pillars:

1.    A Common border and coast guard - to manage our borders: To register the arrival of the refugees, to make the distinction between real refugees and economic migrants and to manage the reception centres.

2.    Use the 3 billion directly in the camps in Turkey. Not to give this to Turkish authorities or to international organizations but directly to the refugees who have to live today with 7 dollars

3.    An EU asylum and migration policy, including a relocation mechanism: "What we do with this deal is not changing or abolishing the Dublin regulation but it puts Turkey inside Dublin." 

'EU Ready to Betray Greece as it Did Czechoslovakia in 1938'

'EU Ready to Betray Greece as it Did Czechoslovakia in 1938' (SP).

"The extraordinary March 7 summit on migration issues in Brussels suggests that [the continent's leaders] have realized, belatedly, what's going on. Convened on the initiative of the German chancellor, who has become the de facto leader of the continent, the summit focused on two priorities: an agreement with Turkey urging Ankara to hold back some of the refugees, and the closure of the migration's Balkan route."

As far as the first question is concerned, Teas argues that it is completely legitimate for Europe to demand that Turkey keep a portion of the refugees it accepts, since "one of the overriding principles of asylum law is that the victims of persecution do not have the right to choose the place where they are held," and must settle in the first place where are made safe.

"As for economic migrants, in other words – illegal immigrants, Turkey should not push them into Europe. Ankara's role, under international law and readmission agreements, is to return them to the country from which they came."

At the moment, Teas suggests, "Mr. Erdogan's Turkey seems to be engaged in a showdown with Europe, using a form of blackmail by conditioning its aid to migrants to accession to the EU, which would open it unlimited access to the European labor market and billions in structural funds. Yielding to these conditions would make Europe into Turkey's hostage."

Ultimately, Teas notes, one should not count on Turkey fulfilling its obligations in good faith, in this case, to save Europe, "nor on Greece playing the role of a scapegoat, sacrificing itself on behalf of our continent's collective errors."

"There is only one solution to this drama: Europe, through the governments of its five or six largest states, should, on an equal footing, take its destiny into its own hands." They have a "historical responsibility" to struggle against the smugglers, "those who accumulate fortunes by throwing millions of poor into the sea."

"But is Europe in the face of its current leadership capable of getting out of its suicidal stupor and regaining its political will and respect the rule of law?", Teas asks.

At the moment, he warns, "it doesn't seem to have found the way." And, as far as France is concerned, "given the gravity and severity of the events, May/June 2017 [when France is set to hold its next presidential elections] seems light years away…" Hmmm.....Given all the new 'taxes' levied on the EU population to pay for the Turkish bribes, this can only result in a massive rise in extreme right voters, who in the long run will vote out all these cowardly politicians. Read the full  story here. 

The sight of Europe’s leaders kowtowing to the Turkish president, Erdogan, was sickening.

Translation: The EU Negotiates. 

The sight of Europe’s leaders kowtowing to the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was sickening. (TheGuardian).

But all this is nothing compared to the strength of the hand Erdoğan has yet to play. With failed or failing states now in Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, the more Turkish democracy fails, the more the west has to support him. And the more the European Commission, in particular, hangs on to the conceit that Turkey will one day join the EU, the more it strengthens forces in Europe who want to leave the union altogether.

Transcripts leaked to a Greek website last month appeared to show Erdoğan overtly threatening Europe with an uncontrolled flood of refugees unless he is given money and rapid accession to the EU. Although they were given credence by some news agencies, the transcripts have the ring of black propaganda of the kind Erdoğan’s newest enemy, the Russian secret service, is adept at producing.

Real or fabricated, the tragedy is that they cannot be far from the truth: Europe is already turning a blind eye to the erosion of democracy, to collusion with people traffickers, and to military action against civilians.

What happens next must be done calmly and proportionately.

The citizens of the EU have a right, first of all, to demand honesty from their own governments, and the commission itself. The EC’s “progress report” in November was an exercise in hypocrisy: while noting the slide to despotism, censorship and brutality, the report praised Turkey for its economic progress. Imagine what the same rapporteurs might have made of an accession request by Mussolini’s Italy.

The critical question is not, as the racists of eastern Europe ask, “Can 75 million Muslims join Europe?”

It is: can a state so fundamentally in breach of the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership remain in any kind of accession process?The answer must clearly be no – and once Erdoğan is told so, the EU has a duty to offer a programme of support to the secular democratic forces that need to come to power in order for accession talks to be resumed.

 The commission – which had no problem telling Greeks which way to vote in July 2015 – would surely have no problem supporting democratic parties against repressive ones in Turkey. Read the full story here.

EU Making `Historic Mistake' in Turkey Deal by selling out Human rights Kurdish Leader Warns.

EU Making `Historic Mistake' in Turkey Deal by selling out Human rights Kurdish Leader Warns. (Bloomberg).

The European Union is making an historic mistake in its haste to conclude a refugee deal with Turkey, overlooking human rights violations that risk plunging the bloc’s largest membership candidate into civil war, said Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the nation’s most prominent pro-Kurdish party.

The EU is turning a blind eye to an opposition crackdown in Turkey that’s polarizing society and complicating efforts to find a political solution to the nation’s Kurdish conflict, Demirtas said in an impromptu interview en route to Brussels. European leaders are expected to ink an agreement with Turkey on Monday that will offer faster EU membership negotiations and visa-free travel in exchange for stopping refugees from crossing the country to enter Europe.

"The EU is trying so hard not to upset Erdogan, and that’s a big mistake," Demirtas said, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "The world has gone very silent on what’s happening in Turkey, and that’s saddening and also short-sighted. If the war in Turkey continues like this, you’re also going to have refugees from Turkey." Hmmm.....The EU cowardly leadership has already shown in the past with Iran that human rights are worthless for them. Read the full story here.

#Turkey wishlist, via @alexebarker: another €3bn, visa liberalsiation quicker, 1 refugee to EU for every 1 returned https://t.co/VSN4WptKQx

— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) March 7, 2016

Erdogan regime silences dissent by taking over largest opposition paper, EU to reward Regime with visa free travel

Erdogan regime silences dissent by taking over largest opposition paper, EU to reward Regime with visa free travel. (TZ).

Turkish police fired tear gas and used water cannon on a crowd to forcibly enter the country's top-selling newspaper on Friday after a court ordered its confiscation. 

An İstanbul court appointed trustees to take over the management of the Feza Media Group, which includes Turkey’s biggest-selling newspaper, the Zaman daily, as well as the Today’s Zaman daily and the Cihan news agency, dealing a fresh blow to the already battered media freedom in Turkey.

Police in riot gear pushed back Zaman supporters who stood in the rain outside its İstanbul office where they waved Turkish flags and carried placards reading "Hands off my newspaper" before they were overcome by clouds of tear gas.

Pulitzer-winning US journalist James Risen says seizure of ZAMAN group by Turkish authorities is "act of dictatorship"
(Via @Orhanakkurt)

— Mustafa Edib Yılmaz (@MustafaEdib) March 4, 2016

Officers then forcibly broke down a gate and rushed into the building. The footage showed them scuffling with Zaman staff inside the offices.

Zaman employees waiting near the entrance said police immediately tear-gassed hundreds of readers who had gathered outside Zaman newspaper to protest the ruling without even delivering the court decision.

Employees shouted 'free press cannot be silenced," as hundreds of police officers entered the building. Zaman daily Editor-in-Chief Abdülhamit Bilici, who had hard time in speaking due to tear gas that covered inside the building, said the scene will be noted in the Turkish history as a black stain.

Police then went to the management floor in the building. Police initially prevented Bilici from entering his office but they later let him in. Bilici was heard saying he does not recognize the court decision. Read and see the full story here.

Ahead of #Turkey-#EU summit, #German interior minister: "We should not be the referee over #humanrights everywhere":https://t.co/7V8ZsneYGd

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 5, 2016

@MKarnitschnig We saw the #EU respect for human rights in #Iran. Don't hold your breath. pic.twitter.com/deprOlc3dE

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 5, 2016

EU & #Turkey's leaders preparing migrant-for-democracy swap: EU gets rid of migrants, #Turkey gets rid of democracy https://t.co/lrY3LK0lpI

— Erik Meyersson (@emeyersson) March 4, 2016