Greek-Turkish Relations and the Refugee Question
Greek-Turkish Relations and the Refugee Question

Author(s): Anthony Deriziotis
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Greek-Turkish; Relations; Refugee; Question;
Summary/Abstract: One could argue that the Greek-Turkish relations have been through enough trouble within the last one hundred years and that there has been a diversity of issues that have plagued their relations, involving -among others- sovereignty, minority, jurisdiction, security and religion issues. Nationalism has fuelled several of them, but in recent years energy politics has been a major factor of friction, especially after other countries in the east Mediterranean Sea, like Egypt, Israel and Cyprus, have discovered significant natural gas reserves in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). However, it is not unlikely that such relations, which have been turbulent for long periods of time, where most of the bilateral issues have never, essentially, been addressed by the two states, will be vulnerable to new challenges, as time goes on and the economic, social and political context within both countries, but also in the wider area of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, is constantly changing. In the absence of mutual understanding and tolerance, and at times of tension, any issue could be perceived as a potential threat from the other side, and an escalation to a crisis could be imminent. Migration and the refugee issue form one of these current challenges that have been affecting Greek-Turkish relations.

• Details
• Contents