Tassos Symeonides
(Academic Advisor)
Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 3 December 2016
Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS).
At the time of the Imia Crisis, in an assessment brief produced for diplomatic consumers, I offered the following conclusion:
It is now obvious that the Turkish leadership may switch back to Cyprus invasion mode with the aim of militarily contesting Greek sovereign island territory in the Aegean. This re-direction of the Turkish strategic plan will be most likely preceded by a period of persistent Ankara demands for a “global redefinition” of the international regime introduced by the 1923 Lausanne Treaty. While Lausanne is not a bilateral but, rather, a multilateral international treaty, which is immune to tweaking according to Turkish whim, questioning its essence, constantly and persistently, could lead to the rise of Turkish demands for “justice” in the Aegean that would gather support from several Alliance members which insist Turkey is indispensable to Western security....Read more