During the past two days, the media paid attention to the incident that took place in the Turkish capital, Ankara, during the reception of the President of the Turkish regime, Recep Erdogan, of the European Union delegation, which included European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the humiliating behavior committed against the last that remained Without a chair, she was forced to sit in a place below her mattress, on the same sofa, with Erdogan's Foreign Minister, which is what has become known today as "Sofa Gate".
The matter was not a mistake, this is not mentioned in the diplomatic protocols, but rather intentional, and Erdogan's actions when communicating with European Union officials leave no room for doubt that the matter in this case is not related at all to a shortage of furniture or some technical problem.
The same visit by Michel and von der Leyen was marked not only by the chair incident, but by another spectacular gesture by Erdogan.
Just before the two guests arrived in Turkey, former admirals were arrested, who, as retired diplomats, had criticized Erdogan's authoritarian behavior and his dangerous adventures.
Perhaps Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi described the president of the Turkish regime as a dictator against the background of this inappropriate treatment of European leaders, the least that can be said when talking about Erdogan and his policies.
The latter is haunted by a mentality of revenge, and is waiting for opportunities to return the strife to Europe, especially after the latter's delay in approving Turkey's accession to the Union, keeping it on the waiting list, and the opposition lists it raises in its face (human rights, Cyprus and Greece), and this is what made Erdogan crazy and said Ankara cannot wait indefinitely on the gates of the European Union after 54 years.
"We are ready to do everything as soon as they ask for it," he said.
Whatever they wish we will do.
But they still leave us at the door. ”
What the Europeans did not say, or ignore, while they are the most knowledgeable and vulnerable to blackmail, is his role in supporting terrorism, extremism and blatant interference in the affairs of sovereign states and the occupation of their lands.
Europe has been annoyed by Erdogan's behavior with von der Leyen, and he is right, but it is assumed that the facts and criteria are clear and one. Her land.
“Sofa Gate” is an episode of an unfinished confrontation, and there will be good chapters, on April 27-29, during an informal meeting on the Cyprus settlement in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations.
It is expected that Erdogan will raise the Cyprus issue, and thus the old problem will be added to new problems in relations between Turkey and the European Union, such as disputes over the borders of Cyprus' waters.