Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made statements regarding the tension between Turkey and Greece.
Miçotakis argued that it is “absurd” for Turkey to question Greece’s sovereignty over the islands in the Aegean Sea and stated that it is therefore difficult to hold talks to discuss the problems between the two countries.
“The objections expressed in Turkey’s letters to the United Nations are completely absurd as they raise questions about Greece’s sovereignty over the islands. We cannot hold any talks on an absurd issue.”
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Miçotakis said that he and Erdoğan will inevitably meet and that they should not stop talking to each other, adding, “We must meet and discuss (the problems). We must accept that we have different views and agree on a framework to resolve our differences.”
What happened?
Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, have long disagreed on a number of issues, including territorial waters, the continental shelf in the Mediterranean, airspace, migration policies and the status of the island of Cyprus.
Tensions between the two countries escalated again last week after Erdogan said Greece should stop arming islands in the Aegean Sea and abide by international agreements.
President Tayyip Erdogan said last month that “there is no longer a Mitsotakis for me” and accused the prime minister of trying to block F-16 sales to Turkey during a visit to the United States.
Turkey and Greece resumed bilateral talks in 2021 after a five-year hiatus, but failed to make significant progress. Erdogan announced last week that bilateral talks between the countries had been suspended altogether.
