KYIV. UkraineGate . 12. September . 2022 | WORLD NEWS.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday that Athens would try to keep communication channels open with Ankara, despite Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent “unacceptable” comments.
Erdogan accused Greece of occupying demilitarized islands in the Aegean Sea and said Turkey was ready to “do what is necessary” when the time comes.
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“I find the recent statements of the Turkish president unacceptable,” Mitsotakis said at a press conference in Thessaloniki.
“However, we will always try to keep communication channels open,” he said, adding that he was always ready to meet with Erdogan.
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Although the countries are NATO allies, they have been at odds for decades on a number of bilateral disputes, including maritime boundaries, continental shelf claims and the long-standing Cyprus dispute.
Erdogan cut off all bilateral talks with Greece last May after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on US lawmakers to block arms sales to Turkey. Military provocations increased shortly thereafter, creating a volatile situation as the two countries were on the brink of war in 2020 over Turkey’s exploration for deposits in waters claimed by Greece.
On Monday, the EU expressed concern over Erdogan’s comments, while the US State Department called them “unnecessary” and reiterated that Greece’s sovereignty over the Aegean islands was “unquestionable”.
Source: Ukrgate
