According to press reports, unidentified individuals have planted a Greek flag on a small island near Kaş and a few Greek soldiers have landed there in order to build a military base. When Turkish journalists went near that isle to verify this information, they were taken into custody by the Greek police and, following negotiations conducted at the highest levels, sent back to Kaş. These journalists have reported that there is much police and military activity on the small island.The Aegean Sea is the source of several problems between Turkey and Greece, and a new crisis is always waiting for its turn to erupt. In that sea, there are scores of islets and rocks with uncertain legal status, which is why any arbitrary effort such as trying to install a military base is considered a hostile action. The tension is palpable in bilateral relations and the antagonism is still active. Besides, the quarrel about the Aegean Sea is closely related to the Cyprus problem and, as a consequence, to the relationship between Turkey and the European Union. When the Turkey-EU relationship becomes tense, because on the one hand Turkey is not doing its homework and on the other some EU member states continue declaring their opposition to Turkish membership, the resolution of the Cyprus issue becomes harder. Turkey will not help the resolution of the Cyprus issue according to the EU's will as long as it does not get a predicted date for its accession to the EU. There is also the concern on the Turkish side that one day an international military or police facility will be established in Cyprus, a facility that will not include Turkey. That is why the Cyprus issue is perceived in Ankara as Turkey's accession ticket to the EU and as one of the pre-conditions of Turkey's membership in the eyes of the EU.
There is no indication that in the near future a solution to the Cyprus issue that will equally satisfy both sides can be reached. Besides, the number of interesting examples such as Kosovo is increasing all over the world and those who want to apply the Kosovo model to the northern part of the island are raising their voices. In other words, the Cyprus question still has the potential to influence the global balance of power. Though neither Turkey nor Greece is willing to make this issue more complicated, they are taking their precautions in case of negative developments. These small crises in the Aegean Sea help both parties test each other and demonstrate which means they are prepared to use if things deteriorate.
This dangerous game pleases those who benefit from the antagonism on both shores of the Aegean. The nationalist and militarist actors in the Turkish political scene get the opportunity to justify their anti-EU stance by using Greece's unfriendly actions. However, history teaches us that these kinds of provocations, which reinforce authoritarian mentalities and institutions, have never served Turkey's long-term interests, and they did not provide more security for Greece.
Any effort that can move Turkey away from the EU will make the relations between Turkey and Greece more troublesome than they are today. Turkey would act more constructively if a “membership and simultaneous resolution of bilateral problems” policy was adopted, instead of the “first resolution and then membership” attitude. But to start with, these two countries should try to listen to each other instead of being manipulated by other actors.
