Greece blocks a NATO statement supporting the Turkish regime

ATHENS, (ST)-Greece on Saturday blocked a NATO statement supporting the Turkish regime after 33 Turkish soldiers were killed and 32 others were injured in the Syrian Arab Army’s operations against terrorist organizations in Idleb.

Athens used the veto right within the NATO alliance to block the issuance of a statement by the North Atlantic Alliance that supports the Turkish regime, according to the Greek Vima newspaper.

The newspaper said that the move came under instructions sent by Greek Prime Minister Nicos Dindias to the Greek permanent mission to NATO when the alliance council tried to adopt a document that doesn’t include Greece’s suggestion on abiding by the EU-Turkish agreement of March 2016 relating to refugees and immigrants.

 The newspaper pointed out that the preliminary meeting at the level of permanent representatives of member countries concluded without issuing a statement. In the meantime, Turkey asked for the alliance’s help in air defense , reconnaissance and other fields, but it seems that there is no consensus by council members on these issues, at least during the current era.

The Turkish regime has been exploiting the refugee and immigrant crisis to blackmail Europe. It keeps threatening to open Turkey’s land and sea borders in front of immigrants and refugees, particularly those who come from the Middle East due to terrorism spread in their countries.

According to a pro-Erdogan news agency, some 300 immigrants including women and children are walking northwest towards Turkey’s borders with Greece.

Hamda Mustafa