the impact of climate change is already a harsh reality tundra chaudhry al-jazeera chittagong hill threats southern california is best known for strongly weather but it seems rest snow at the moment in high areas snow ice and wind is forcing road closures more is expected with up to 10 feet of snow predicted in the sierra nevada mountains but even the beach town of malibu has seen some snow by worries that it could trigger flash floods in areas devastated by fires and trapped. this is al jazeera these are your top stories members of the u.s. house of representatives have delivered an impeachment case against them trying to the senate the former president is charged with inciting this month's mobile attack on the cole gris impeachment trial will begin next month the lead impeachment

manager said trump should never be allowed to hold public office again. in all this president trump gravely endangered the security of the united states and its institutions of government he threaten the integrity of the democratic system interfered with the peaceful transition of power and imperial co-equal branch of government he thereby betrayed his trust as president to the manifest injury of the people of the united states police in india have fired tear gas at farmers protesting in the capital against the government's agricultural reforms some protesters in new delhi stormed past police barricades towards the city center on the say the new rules will destroy their livelihoods and favor large businesses in the u.s. senate has confirmed janet yellen as the new treasury secretary the 1st woman to hold the position she's also the 1st person to hold the top 3 economy jobs in the u.s. government she was chair of the federal reserve in the obama administration and white

house council of economic advisors under bill clinton and the senate foreign relations committee has confirmed anthony blinken as secretary of state paving the way for full senate vote during his can confirmation hearing blinken said he'll order a review of the decision to designate yemen's hooty rebels as a terror group he said he'll also build on the u.s. brokered deals to normalize ties between israel and some arab countries. dozens of people the netherlands have been arrested as purchase against lockdown measures and a curfew continued for a 3rd night australia's national day has also been marked by protest demonstrators rallied in sydney they call national day invasion day because it remembers the moment that british ships arrived to colonize the island. ok those who had lived the news continues here on al-jazeera after inside story

coming up next with us. make a change. change a life through the path of a country challenge the access to truth you want to create something you push to break you continue remolded turn the status quo and fight injustice all months to get. our goal to. witness documentaries like alter the section on al-jazeera. navigating troubled waters turkish and greek officials resume talks over their maritime dispute can diplomacy diffuse recent tensions this is inside story.

hello and welcome to the show i'm sam is a than well turkey and greece have been disputing their maritime boundaries for decades and last year the 2 nations came close to war when ankara deployed a survey vessel in contested waters now after a 5 year suspension of their direct talks the nato allies are back at the negotiating table discussions to resolve the standoff in the g. and eastern mediterranean kicked off on monday but they were preceded by disagreements over the agenda athan wants to limit them to continental shelf borders and the size of the exclusive economic zone but i'm curious says other issues including differences over aerial zones and some of g. and islands should be tackled so in course all the reports from istanbul. turkey and greece are opposite approaches when it comes to the limitation of the contests of maritime borders and the resumption of these exploratory talks that took place 6

the times before since 2000 to a comes at a time of mutual mistrust an arms race and a very aggressive rhetorical tension sparked especially when president our last said that he will open his country's borders to the e.u. for the thousands of irregular migrants last year and then last summer bought size completed claims over the deep sea gas reserves and turkey sent a seismic survey vessel to the eastern mediterranean very close to greek territorial waters greece totally was against this but there is one thing in common both countries are going through a domestic political and economical slump and turkey faces possible u.s. sanctions because of purchase russian s $400.00 missile systems and united states says that that's a breach for turkey as a nato ally so 2 countries again come together to discuss the by literal issues in

the agency many believe that since those issues of what size are present are seen as sovereignty national sovereignty issues by both sides they are not comparable they will never compromise on any of those issues but they want to show the united states and the western countries that they are not a void in any kind of diplomatic dialogue also many say that both turkey and greece are trying to gain time a stroke is stuck with its problems with the united states and the european union and economy and greece trying to raise its arms and buying new weapons from other countries sina because all of our inside story in turkey in greece serve overlapping claims to areas of gas rich waters in the eastern mediterranean they each sought to strengthen their territorial claims by drawing up exclusive economic zones with libya and egypt risk. back to valley greece says each of its islands is entitle to its own continent or shelf with exclusive drilling rights turkey

disputes that anchor also wants to ensure the turkish republic of cyprus has equal rights to gas fields it's not internationally recognized though as an independent state last year turkey has stepped up drilling along the north coast of cyprus angering greece which claims the area as part of its continental shelf and last week athens extended its western territorial waters from 6 nautical miles to 12 that's around 22 kilometers ankara opposes that thank you. well let's bring in our guest now joining us from nicosia in cyprus we have and ras theophanous he's the president of the cyprus center for european and international affairs in rome we have natalie tajik she's the director of the institute of international affairs and a former advisor to for that he commodity any the european union's foreign affairs

chief and in london we have gallup the lie he's a researcher at the university of oxford welcome to you or so perhaps i could start with andreas and ask the question do you think this round of talks will succeed andrea as well we should who'd be optimistic in that sense but even taking into consideration uncle. and also to the stated positions on the u.c. shoes. relations as well as the secretary he would be very hesitant to express optimism let me say that the differences between the 2 countries you know. before you do that let me jump in and ask this question the fact that they have started talking is that a success in itself is it something of a success it is a turkish perspective which is this needs to be sorted out in bilateral talks. it's

a positive step i mean negotiations and trying to find peaceful ways to address issues that i think it's always welcome i think you know greece has also been positive to discussions now as it was mentioned very clear previously they have some issues of procedure i mean greece indicates that it will be 2 issues to discuss of the continent shelf in the exclusive economic zone to be delineated ok and any other issues should not be discussed now why do we have this statement because i'm kind of himself another that these are visuals how been raising the issue really rising the treaty olaus up and this is not acceptable to greece in the sense that. greece indigo is that it will not discuss in address that we should use the claims of turkey even there are issues to

be addressed yes but. that treaty says there is no need to go back and trying to find issues over the islands in the aegean and so on sore or right let's bring in the perspective of gallup if we could in london gallop listening to what and dresses explaining that i think it underlines the fact that turkey and greece haven't really agree they have a great start talking but what exactly to talk about is not entirely in agreement right. well i think that's 1st we have to be clear at this stage we are talking about chris's management mark rosas solution given the fact that the dissent of the issues that again groups are discussing are quite intractable settled the problems so one has been there earlier as you know has provoked is the root of it goes as far regs as you to form this not the board state so at this

stage we are talking more the crows management so it does not call mean it n. in n. is a deal or accident that will you know that will work the hours that will make your resolution of anything is impossible from this perspective it is a positive sign that they're talking because when little resume that takes away the focus from the military stanley or read only to the negotiation at this stage i think truth is essential for the as it is one of them is the more the plural well as some form of like you know it in the stock what all the energy exploration is actually happening right now i mean quite the turkey has not been standing there or has raised into the contest water sports on boats and the secondly it is the good of talks negotiations and this is like you know what it is exploratory polls that is reserved to get and i think the 3rd one is in one way or another if at all

really if the troops progresses the questions that will be in front of all that will be hard to bring turkey egypt is mediterranean gas forum or a gas gave you one way or another because it is the perception of turkey that it is being cut from an emerging secret in order order in that is the military in that what it is to utilize the course of the problem. let me interrupt you as well let me jump in there because that's a really interesting point you've mentioned let me take that if we could to natalie in romans. i ask you from the perspective of the european union from your understanding do you think the e.u. wants to see this problem resolved or resolved as in finally as god would say let turkey into the eastern mediterranean gas game or is it just about ensuring that things don't boil over that's all the e.u. wants to see is let's not have a war in the eastern mediterranean and maybe have some attempt at curbing turkish

power in the area. well i'm ready for time together go on there and get it was to say i think in an ideal world or the sea that you're really like to see these talks and then should lead to a resolution of not only somebody else's issues that we were discussing but eventually that this would also see a spillover effects onto the cyprus conflict almost to the order i had mentioned you cannot turn into beach and i am perhaps even having spent a positive spin there explanations such as. so this is obviously a given ideal world and the point in years of course is a gear i share and that is how we do live and i am therefore does the european union prefer the kind as i was mentioning the conflict management situation which existed in the 2007. by the rapprochement between the

2 countries after the $999.00 earthquake or does it regard the escalatory dynamics that we saw over the summer and north well obviously in. the form of that and given that we do live in well to be will obviously be better at the very least that conflict management sets up to ensure that on the one hand turkey is assertive and i'm suggesting behavior is cut and then eventually the different forms cooperation in the region and that we've been seeing i have to try out the multilateral i rashly forms of cooperation that become more inclusive nature beginning with the energy all right maybe we should let's go back actually to gallup for a 2nd that. put let's put this in context for for the viewers just for a 2nd and run us through the issues at stake here of issues which are disputed between turkey and greece because they're quite you know the they range from the

whole cyprus issue which i think you know most people would know something about to some of the details of like where the territorial waters end right where does the continental shelf and how do you do do you apply that to islands as well as the mainland exclusive economic zones and then there's you know aerial zones and space and it gets quite complicated right there is there's a lot in other words to talk about. no absolutely i mean we are talking about different set of the militant disputes be in so doing with territorial waters but also true to bring to the table the conversation over the ownership or to some rock island and others which reads this is. so randy is the military i mean it's the there is the continental shelf can we exclude those old but also you are like the soberest roses which is basically always in an all atmosphere or 2 lesions here

and now on the top is greek turkish by little spirit you have the energy explorations start in front of them one time israel and then. the gas one and then sampras and absolutely in egypt and the lead in trousers in which like neutral it's only gallup let me put this point to you from the greek respect that say it might be a lot easier if only turkey would just simply adhere to international law. whether it's to do with its presence in cyprus which the greeks see as an occupation they should get out of there or whether it's about you know territorial waters just recognize the law of the seas which gives countries the right to go all the way to 12 miles. well i think i mean in in cyprus pretty is that there was a young process in poland 14 there was also a woman there was a young resolution on the site and turkey so i had. supported maybe 65 percent and

then the group said it rejected by 75 percent so there was a young process on cyprus but when it comes to doing international law perspective on the under under other settle the dispute i think in the end in what way or another will end of you know international arbitration but the question is 'd exactly what we discussed at the beginning what would take that into an issue or because the this agreement will what to be taken to the insanity court as well do it because what one side does this go is this because they describe it as its sovereignty so death for no good as long as you have this glaring gap between the ball says narrow what do what is that it is and what is a sovereignty issue then you know taking that usually intent is you've got at these this is quite unlikely right ok and that let me give a chance to address and breath why is athens resisting this cussing all the issues if you going back to talks surely put everything on the table could help improve

this would mean. typical features are going to solve not conceal their objectives they want to they want to work you know can't 23 to be a bigot country then when he's very now i mean this or that part of turkish expansion is. there is a record of usually talking about cyprus i mean since that was mentioned without serious talk and the history of the details i know i was going to get bogged down but my point is going why not if you're seeking to talk why not talk about everything. let me put it this way eve nice also starts talking about everything that i think that things will be made worse. in the sense i mean len you say not to talk about houston but although we must be forward looking we cannot escape from history and. talking about cyprus when turkey ingredient in it insolent devour

it declaring that its objective was true response usual after him. community in practice it has destroyed the usual 2 so close. to 7 percent either quite good new cleansing it has chorus cyprus to the extent that may not be in your complete part in this thread now you are trying to wholeness the city of wood was supposed to turn into so it is a looking about a year and planning that all for and relates this is this is actually what i'm trying to avoid getting into you know claims of ethnic cleansing and counterclaims and the history but it's not let me put the question this way and dress if that the 2 sides are going to decide where the territorial waters are where the continental shelf is then you have to kind a have to resolve whose islands these are and you know some of the broader issues about the the presence of you know or the make up of cyprus in terms of political

order that would make it a lot easier to decide where the exclusive zone start and end would net. put it this way we have the islands belong to the trick euro zone and that's what is clear it will spread treaties that's clear what is what should be discussed what could be used these fluted use of continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone and its international fora but you know this isn't an international law ok when there are certain differences in different interpretations it thinks can be discussed now in the case of cyprus since you brought it up again you know we cannot take positions like that that would turkey given the credits in turkey what he's asking for the purpose of goods and services. cyprus is a country less than 10000 square kilometers and turkey would like to have her

exclusive or you know can set up glaswegians states so it wants to sort of caught us who lives where on that why doesn't that practice practice in turkey and once you know what comes out with a great perspective but you know that's a nicosia is a uncle i would like it is unusual to turn cyprus into a protectorate and also to change the demographic structure or right and then to claim locals who are as asian so i think he is ok that's really the point is unfortunately the point is clear they have made a lack of trust in him in turkish intentions and what the greys say not only is it exactly as and let me if i can let me because we have got a lot of time let me get a chance to natalie it's i think even clear from just listening to the discussion in this show that there isn't a lot of common ground even on what the issues are. why have talks even begun at this point what made them possible they've been stalled for years was it a change in the u.s. administration. but exactly the change in the u.s.

history she made of the difference is merely a difference because ultimately it will last only it is under the trumpet administration really characterize crying or not with one hand there really erratic behavior and we are now and perhaps of the loss of a profound disconnect between the european union and the united states and now that all the regions of out in recent turkey you know that there is an agreement see there will be more tenacious in all that and this hospital to create different climate for instance they need and we know that nato has been trying to say general that's the prime actor in actually enjoying it at the talks between greece and turkey so i think this is rooted in international context makes the difference alongside the rest of the state there are the economic upturn he is in the

threat. of sanctions there are even 1st scenario in greece the t.v. as far as the military debate is concerned am i am defense contracts so i think there is incentives on both sides and that's not necessarily an actually reaching an agreement but certainly litigating a conflict and sort of embarking on a deescalate really dynamic ok let me bring galligan i got i am assuming you probably want to come back at a lot of some of the historical points which mr andreas was mentioning there but if i can try and get us to focus a little bit more on the now rather than the ancient history of this why all is one way of looking at this is perhaps turkey being a little bit on the back foot feeling the heat from some of those factors which natalie mentioned whether it's a closer transatlantic alliance or the e.u. sanctions is that what's happening was a little. well it's significant impact and one of the let's not forget one of the

major reason that led to the present is the mediterranean was a systemic at that true things was important one of them is that the u.s. withdrawal from the areas because historically when the worst president in turkey and then greece like we saw many of them we know tonight is the u.s. would step in to deescalate the tension or between the 2 major allies the 2nd with the 2nd one is the loss of the e.u. exemption primmer interest group because in late new 2 months early 2 dalton's you saw the golden you saw the honeymoon period in charge group alicia's and these was against the backdrop of the drug is turkey's quest to have to be a member of the european union so that the separate is all part of that has. basically ended with the clothes but now on the top of these factors. there are like you know new factors one of the on this military posture indeed is the

military is an expensive piece but for turkey about progress as well to the narrative that turkey has been advocating for the talks so it is going there isn't change of position in terms of that you know get informed or if you get informed are there for the negotiation and then the last immediate factors are as nothing to put it the change of the government in you was because now i like the rules in more commercials but it had only gotten inroads and turkey changing its position as well because of that it withdrew the order trysts seismic survey ship right in december was that one of the signs i mean the of the foreign minister of turkey called it positive messages that turkey was sending positive measures and messages rather was that really turkey changing its policy because it's saw the really the in the global situation changing against this journey its patents it's changing its tactics because the policy hasn't is that i mean all the settlers are crazy. that.

you know we are still with us right now the only thing that has any talk is not then it is years into the content the watchers so that the only thing that changed since the last one. i think if that if that holds true is it and progress highly likely will not you know will not see the ships going into the contest what it is and soon but we should not exclude the fact that it is you might go into the waters if the things get worse as well so on is that we've got over not over it's not overstate the importance of the change of the government in us and certainly is important the determination of the car i'm very certain there are always got a minute left and try and give it to and an os the same kind of question time draws but do you think that the changing global situation will strengthen the great position in talks or at least embolden it and lead it to believe that it has a stronger position right now this surely is the one we haven't was he when we come

it was usually at any point in time. the balance or imbalance of power influences the outcome so far turkey has been trying to use gun book diplomacy in us that since disputes are in surplus and with greece in order to push for its positions i would say that the european union has been tolerating to a great extent turkey but it's even you know since this is repeated it begins to show that turkish revisionism is the stable it's the indicators of the united states we have trump who also will. truly bring a pretty great extent president urkel and in this issue is whether the new u.s. administration would follow up writing i would say finishing up my thoughts were jews mentioned earlier that it's about it's not mentioned it's it's

a few years ago i mean that in the world has been taking place the issues that i have no doubt in my mind that eve turkey used to respect. the total integrity and the lack of existence of neighboring countries to exist is think there can be cooperation reduce the many trillion encouraged by the european union and the misleads of america if true means it's the region is. up and polish is i think the maximum that can be done by other powers is conflict management thank you very much andreas there for your thoughts let's try and end on hopes for the escalation let's thank also gallup in london and natalie of course toci in rome and thank you to fortune you can see the show again any time by visiting our website al-jazeera dot com for further discussion head over to our facebook page that facebook dot com forward slash a.j.

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