Frank-Walter Steinmeier

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier berated Turkey’s political establishment, saying playing “games” with the Lausanne Treaty did not constitute policy, during a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias in Athens.

Just as the German Finance Minister reintroduces the prospect of a Grexit, the German Foreign Minister describes those in Germany who would even entertain the notion of Greece’s departure from the Eurozone as “frivolous.”

As Turkey continues to fuel tensions with Greece over matters of territorial integrity, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has told Kathimerini that the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne, which set out the modern borders between Greece and Turkey, are indisputable, adding that Ankara stands to benefit from its agreement with the European Union to tackle the refugee crisis.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due in Greece for a two-day visit on Sunday and Monday, where among other engagements, he will inaugurate an exhibition in Thessaloniki.

On Sunday, Steinmeier will be welcomed by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at 5.30 p.m. in Athens and then hold an official meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

No breakthrough has been reached at the meeting in Minsk attended by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia.
The countries from the Normandy Four discussed the withdrawal of armed formations from the front line in Eastern Ukraine and the exchange of prisoners of war.

A meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany intended to shore up a shaky peace process in eastern Ukraine ended Nov. 29 without any visible progress.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after the talks that "there were no breakthroughs," adding that sharp disagreements on security and other issues remain, The Associated Press reported.

16 European countries, including Bulgaria, will seek a new agreement with Russia on arms control, reported Reuters.

"European security is in danger," stated German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "We need to have more conversations with Russia, not less,  no matter how complicated our relations are at the moment."

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz will leave his post.

Schulz, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, announced that he intends to return to German politics.

60-year old Schulz will enter German politics where he might compete with Angela Merkel for the post of German Chancellor next year, reported AFP..

The tension between Turkey and the European Union found a new safety valve during the visit of the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Turkey.

In Ankara, Steinmeier had a heated debate with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The Turkish nation is frustrated by the European Union's "hypocrisy and double standards" toward Turkey, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said, noting that the government was consequently considering holding a referendum about Ankara's future relations with the bloc.