Greece refuses extradition of Turkish coup soldiers!

Greece refuses extradition of Turkish coup soldiers!
-Dr. Abdul Ruff
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Turkey and Greece with common borders continue to face mutual tensions and Greece is a major reason for Turkey’s efforts to enter the EU as a European power.
Also, those EU members who oppose Turkey to be a EU member mainly because Turkey is the only Muslim nation in entire European continent. For most of EU members find it embarrassing to have a Muslim nation in their estimably Christian continent and create problems to deny Turkey its legitimate claim to be in the EU, though economically and politically Turkey, a stable and prospective nation both ways, would not gain anything being in this weak association.
The Turkish military helicopter that landed in the Greek border city of Alexandroupolis just as an attempted coup was being quashed in Turkey has turned into one of the toughest diplomatic challenges to date for Greece’s relatively inexperienced government. On board were eight Turkish military personnel — all unarmed helicopter crew members, it later turned out — who issued a mayday signal and were granted permission for an emergency landing. The eight immediately surrendered to Greek police. They insist they were not involved in the attempted coup, had been tasked with transporting wounded soldiers and civilians and had fled for their lives after coming under fire from Turkish police.
Turkey disputes their claim, and has demanded their return to stand trial for alleged participation in the violent attempt to overthrow the government. But the eight have applied for political asylum in Greece, saying they would be in danger if returned to Turkey amid President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s widespread purges of the military and civil service in response to the failed coup.
Turkey has been demanding from its neighbor Greece to hand over the former military personnel involved the failed coup in Turkey to kill President Erdogan and destabilize Islamist Turkey but Greece by using the issue as an important asset to belittle Istanbul has refused to oblige the Turkish government, citing some technical problems.
Greece’s Supreme Court has ruled against the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece in July after a failed coup attempt in Turkey, a decision which angered Ankara and further strained relations between the two neighbours.
Turkey has demanded Greece extradite them to try them for their possible involvement in the coup attempt and has branded them traitors.
The coup men who fled Turkey after their coup failed– three majors, three captains and two sergeant-majors – landed a helicopter in northern Greece on 16 July and in oreer to get the support of Greece and EU sought political asylum saying they feared for their lives in Turkey.
Without giving reason to use the military helicopter and fled Turkey after the failed coup, the soldiers deny playing a role in the attempt to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which led to a purge of the military and civil service. “The possibility of their rights being violated or reduced regardless of the degree of guilt or the gravity of the crimes they are accused of does not allow the implementation of extradition rules,” a Supreme Court president said.
The soldiers have been kept in protective custody pending final decisions on their asylum applications in Greece. Their lawyer Christos Mylonopoulos said the verdict was “a big victory for European values”, but he has not explained how those who tried to engineer ac coup to destabilize Turkey and kill the Islamist leaders as it has happened in Egypt is victory for Greece..
The court decision brought an angry response from the Turkish foreign ministry, which accused Greece of protecting plotters and said relations between the two countries would be reviewed. Turkey would “use all avenues of law” to ensure the soldiers’ extradition and prosecution, it added. “Once again Greece, an ally and a neighbour, has failed to fulfil the basics of the fight against terrorism,” it said. “The impact of this decision thought to be made with political motives on our mutual ties, our cooperation in the fight against terrorism and our work on other mutual and regional issues will be subject to a comprehensive review.”
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported earlier that Turkish authorities had issued arrest warrants for the soldiers. The soldiers have been accused in Turkey of attempting to abrogate the constitution and dissolve parliament, seizing a helicopter, using violence and attempting to assassinate President Erdogan who is already facing problem form his former allies like Gulen who is being shielded by USA for his involvement in the coup and other anti-Turkey activities. President Trump is likely send Gulen back to Turkey for facing legal procedures to clear himself of all charges of treason.

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Relations between Greece and Turkey, neighbours and NATO allies, have improved over the years but they remain at odds over territorial disputes and ethnically split Cyprus. In 1996, they almost reached the brink of war over an uninhabited islet.
Today, the two countries play an important role in the handling of Europe’s worst migration crisis in decades and the EU depends on Ankara to enforce a deal to stem mass migration to Europe. Turkey has been on the forefront to help EU solve the explosive migration crisis by accepting thousands of refugees.
The relations between the Greek and the Turkish states have been marked by alternating periods of mutual hostility and reconciliation ever since Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832. Since then the two countries have faced each other in four major wars—the Greco-Turkish War (1897), the First Balkan War of 1912 to 1913, the First World War (1914 to 1918) and finally the Greco-Turkish War (1919–22). The latter was followed by the Greco-Turkish population exchange and a period of friendly relations in the 1930s and 1940s.
Both countries entered NATO in 1952 and normalized their ties without tensions. Relations deteriorated again in the 1950s due to the Cyprus issue, Greek destabilization moves, the 1955 Istanbul pogrom and the expulsion of the Istanbul Greeks in the 1960s, leading to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and subsequent military confrontations over the Aegean dispute. A period of relative normalization began after 1999 with the so-called “earthquake diplomacy”, which notably led to a change in the previously firmly negative stance of the Greek government on the issue of the accession of Turkey to the European Union.
Both countries entered NATO in 1952 and normalized their ties without tensions. Relations deteriorated again in the 1950s due to the Cyprus issue, the 1955 Istanbul pogrom and the expulsion of the Istanbul Greeks in the 1960s, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and subsequent military confrontations over the Aegean dispute. A period of relative normalization began after 1999 with the so-called “earthquake diplomacy”, which notably led to a change in the previously firmly negative stance of the Greek government on the issue of the accession of Turkey to the European Union.
After the failed 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt several Turkish military personnel sought political asylum in Greece while Turkey requested their extradition. Also, the Greek armed forces and Coast Guard was on alert and increased the patrols and a contingent of the Greek It seems, police was dispatched to some Greek islands to conduct checks there in order to prevent the arrival of participants in the failed coup to Greece and arrest anyone who might manage to enter the country. No details of detentions are available.
There has been a flow of anti-government Turks seeing asylum in neighboring countries like Greece and Italy. The coup in Turkey was a deep rooted one but failed because President Erdogan could detect the trouble well in advance or before it was too late to do anything, so that coup could not succeed and some plotters fled the nation. Also, the two Turkey’s military attache in Athens fled to Italy. The Greek Foreign Ministry canceled the two attache’ accreditations on August 7, 2016, upon the request of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. At August 11, 2016, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that they left Greece to Italy on August 6 and added that Turkey will officially ask Italian authorities to extradite the two soldiers.
On August 25, 2016, seven Turkish citizens who supported the coup were seeking asylum in Greece. A couple, both of whom are university professors, and their two children applied for asylum in Alexandroupoli after they illegally entered the country from the northeastern border. Also, three businessmen have illegally reached the Greek island of Rhodes, and they also applied for asylum.
On August 30, 2016, interestingly, a Turkish judge arrived in the Greek island of Chios on a migrant boat and sought asylum in the country. He told the Greek coast guard and police officers that he is against Islamist government and is being persecuted in Turkey for his political beliefs by the government of President Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish judge had been arrested for illegally entering the country and, also, he transferred to Athens for his asylum proceedings.
On September 21, 2016, ten Turkish civilians, two men, two women and six children landed by boat illegally on the Greek island of Rhodes and sought asylum. They told to the Greek authorities they were working in the private sector in Turkey and they were being persecuted by the Turkish government for opposing it and due to their political beliefs. On September 29, 2016, five Turkish nationals, a couple and their child and two other men, arrived in Alexandroupolis by crossing the Evros River by boat illegally and requested political asylum
The arrival of coup plotters on board a Black Hawk helicopter on July 16 – and their asylum applications in particular – have created a diplomatic headache for Greece, which has a long history of delicate relations with its much larger and more powerful eastern neighbor. The two countries last came to the brink of war 20 years ago over a territorial dispute in the Aegean Sea that separates them, and while they have since enjoyed far warmer ties, tensions are never far away. Greece often complains of Turkish fighter jet violations of its airspace in the Aegean.
Greek officials quickly returned the helicopter, and have suggested they would like to return the eight as well as per international law but has not kept their word. . .Many in Greece supporting the coup say the frequent comments by Turkish officials, including Erdogan himself, about reinstating the death penalty are complicating matters. If death penalty legislation is introduced in Turkey’s parliament, Greece or any other European Union member would struggle to extradite someone to a country where they might be executed.
Turkey’s ambassador to Athens, Kerim Uras, has warned that the Turkish public is closely watching the case, and a failure to return the military personnel could have repercussions on bilateral relations. “If they are returned as soon as possible, this can really turn into a great, positive thing for bilateral relations,” Uras said. if Greece indicates that the military personnel would be returned, Turkey might refrain from turning up the pressure on Athens.
Greece apparently now serves as the safe haven for the coup plotters and anti-national operators in Turkey and Greece supports the anti-Turkish protester sand agitators and plotters as a policy. And hence the Supreme Court also supports the coup plotters and refuses to extradite them.
Extradition of outsiders from neighboring countries is a law that is followed by most countries even without request from the countries where they belong. But Greece and USA still refuse to extradite those from Turkey with anti-government charges.
This attitude strengthens the anti-Islamic movements particularly in Islamic world.

 

Indian strategy in sports

Indian strategy in sports

-Dr. Abdul Ruff

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It is quite normal if countries try ot outsmart one another in sports and tournaments but sport-fixing by any means is illegal and the immorally gotten titles do not stand scrutiny of time. Money won’t save a nation forever.

The case in point is India- an emerging economy in South Asia and trying to overtake the sport powers and big economies like USA, Russia, China and Japan, etc.

Until recently China reigned in Badminton in all formats- single doubles, etc as one could see the results of all important international tournaments.  Chinese shutters occupied top positions in most categories, if not all.

Badminton has been traditionally forte of China and South East nations but in recent times India has made inroads but it could not overwhelm the Chinese players in any format.

Apparently, now days, Beijing, the sport superpower of Asian continent,  seems to have developed “soft” corner for India withdraw it top players from the field altogether, leaving the field manly for India, while Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia etc just play to promote Indian cause. The reason for the self denial approach of all these nations It is not clear but China has a border issue with India and fought with it a war in 1965.

So much so, Indian badminton board and mafias are eager to fix matches in India’s favor by adjusting the schedules, timings, weak opponents- Indian players would insist that no strong payers are pitted against poor Indians. Generally Indian top players face tough opponents only in final or semi finals. That they generally lose, unless some fixing is done in advance for they are very lucky.

In order to promote Indian players, some top players lose matches to weak players who in turn would lose to Indian players. That is a grand strategy of badminton  community.  In semi-fianls of Syed Modi International in New Delhi On January 28  Indonesian Hanna RAMADINI [6] lost to ordinary fellow  player Gregoria MARISKA obviously so that  she would easily lose to Indian Siandhu in the final if  the Indian wins the semi final by defeating Fitriani FITRIANI [4] of Indonesia. This is a classic case of prior fixing to promote a particular  player for some reasons. The Indian got Padma award o n January 26 and so they allwant to make her the  title winner of the Indian tournament.

Simple. . .

India now seems to claim “ownership” of BWF badminton a sit wants everything according to its whims and fancies. Other teams obey or tolerate Indian dictates.

In fact, upon its huge success in cricket where it now decides many things as its privilege India is focused on badminton. In fact after IPL, India has floated such joint spots in many sports like hockey, football badminton, tennis, etc and obviously influences the players from aboard to help India at the “appropriate time” when countries play international tournaments.

So far India has managed some success in its efforts.

Though failed badly in sports in outside India competitions, it has an element of success in one field Badminton through matchfixing tactics with other nations, including China.

Today, India is top sport team in South and South East Asia and but for China and Japan it would emerged the sport super power of Asia.

 

Is US-UK special relationship under threat under Trump presidency?

Is US-UK special relationship under threat under Trump presidency?
-Dr. Abdul Ruff
_________

 

Like US-Russia relations, the bilateral ties between USA and UK also play important role in stabilizing international relations.

UN veto members America and Great Britain have maintained special relationship for decades, notwithstanding changing governments in both western capitalist nations. Arrival of ultra nationalist Donald trump on US political arena directly as US presidency candidate with his ideas of greatness for USA alone has sent cold waves even in UK which is known to toe the US line of thinking on all aspects- even on Palestine issue well where both opposed Palestine and supported Israel for ages since the Jewish state was impose on Mideast by both in 1948 and quickly made a full-fledged UN member- but now both indirectly support the idea of establishment of Palestine state and condemn the illegal Jewish settlement proliferation in Palestine.
However, the British doubts over Trump approach towards its closest ally looks untenable as President decided to receive at White House British premier as his first foreign guest. Thus the British PM Theresa May has won the race to be the first foreign leader to meet President Donald Trump in Washington. But her trip to the US capital is anything but a victory lap.
Theresa May gets a warm welcome at the Republican retreat and in the White House. Trump has already pronounced Britain “very special!” in one of his tweets. He has also has restored to the Oval Office a bust of Britain’s World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill that was removed while Barack Obama was president, to the chagrin of some patriotically minded Britons. May’s office says she intends to admire the bust when she visits the White House. She’ll also give Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, a Quaich, a traditional Scottish cup of friendship.
Of course, history has proved that political positions are not always a guide to personal relationships, however. Former PM Tony Blair and Republican President George W. Bush formed a friendship that surprised many — and led Britain into the divisive, costly War on Iraq. May and Trump could hardly be more different. He is a brash, spotlight-loving businessman whose closest British ally to date has been the bantering former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage. She is a small-town vicar’s daughter who has risen to the top of politics through prudence and by avoiding personal ostentation or controversy. Her most flamboyant feature is a fondness for leopard-print shoes.
Apparently, Theresa May’s staff worked feverishly to secure the two-day trip, which includes a meeting with the president on Friday at the White House. British officials hope it will help cement the UK’s place as a pre-eminent American ally and provide proof of what Britons — more often than Americans — call the trans-Atlantic “special relationship.”

Trump has also been generally cool on trade agreements. He is pulling the USA out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a deal Obama worked hard on — and has promised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. In other challenges for May, Trump has called NATO “obsolete” and called the EU “basically a vehicle for Germany” that Britain was “smart” to leave.
Excerpts from the speech were released in advance by PM May’s office. May’s seeming embrace of Trump — in the wake of his commitment to building a Mexico border wall and other recent edicts — drew criticism from her domestic opponents. UK PM Theresa May insists she’s up to the task of being America’s steadfast but plain-speaking friend, telling British lawmakers that “I am not afraid to speak frankly to a president of the United States.” Her message in the USA will include elements of gentle history lesson, as she urges the two nations to “lead together.” In a speech to Republican legislators in Philadelphia, May plans to say that the trans-Atlantic relationship “made the modern world” and built the institutions that have underpinned the global order since the end of World War II.

Donald Trump welcomed the UK decision to leave the EU and even asked other European nations also to follow suit. Linking Britain’s vote to leave the 28-nation European Union with the win of political outsider Trump, she’ll say that “as you renew your nation just as we renew ours, we have the opportunity — indeed the responsibility — to renew the special relationship for this new age.” Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband tweeted: “Today he starts on wall, praises waterboarding, bullies climate scientists. She says they can lead together. Surely decent Tories feel queasy?”

The effusive tone coming from Trump’s White House marked a change from the Obama years. “Obama has been a more Asia-Pacific-focused president (with his Asia pivot theme) so this is a return — at least in rhetoric — to the good old days of the USA-UK special relationship,” she said. “But it’s very difficult to know exactly what Theresa May is going to get out of this other than warm words.”
While former President Obama warned that Britain outside the EU would go to the “back of the queue” for a US trade deal, Trump told the Times of London newspaper that a trade deal could be done quickly and he backs it. Experts argue that any talks in Washington this week would be preliminary, since Britain is barred by EU rules from substantial negotiations on new trade agreements until it actually leaves the bloc — which is likely to be in 2019 at the earliest. And May will face strong domestic opposition to any deal that forces Britain to bring its standards into line with the USA on things like genetically modified food — currently banned under EU rules — or the private sector’s role in health care.
May told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week that although the UK is leaving the EU, “it remains overwhelmingly and compellingly in Britain’s national interest” that the bloc still succeed. And while Trump said in his inauguration speech that “from this day forward, it’s going to be only America first,” May vowed in Davos to stand up for free markets, free trade and globalization.

Britain needs more than words from the USA as it prepares to start divorce talks with the European Union. May has said the UK will be leaving both the bloc and its single market in goods and services, which now stretches over 28 countries including Britain and involves half a billion people. By leaving, the UK is gaining the opportunity to strike new trade deals around the globe, and the USA, as the top destination for British exports, is one of the biggest prizes around.

Obviously, there is big queue of foreign signatories, especially presidents and premiers, seeking through their diplomatic channels, an appointment with president Trump and he would go in his own way in picking his guests. In fact many leaders are in waiting list to receive a presidential call form Washington. Many leaders around the world — who will make their own visits to Washington in the coming months — will be watching closely to see if they do.

The US-UK leaders try to create the chemistry that they need to create. When leaders of governments really want to make it work, they can make it work, anyway.

PM May faces the challenge of persuading a president who has vowed to put “America first” of the benefits of free trade with Britain and the vital role of the 28-nation NATO military alliance. And she must build a working relationship with a populist president whose protectionist outlook and loose way with facts have alarmed many European politicians, including some of May’s own allies.

As it stands, the top English allies do not face any real threat to their historic ties. Meanwhile, as President Donald Trump is gaining diplomatic niceties in office, the US-British relations have no reason to stumble even during the Trump era.
A businessman is always a business man and business cannot thrive without essential diplomatic skills-

And President Trump knows that.