Greece’s overseas minister says his nation is open to talks with Turkey however provided that Ankara stops its provocations.
Nikos Dendias instructed the Proto Thema newspaper: “It is up to Turkey to choose if it will come to such a dialogue or not, but the basic ingredient must be a de-escalation.”
The two historic foes have an extended listing of grievances, together with maritime boundaries, flying rights, the delineation of their continental cabinets and the divided island of Cyprus.
But in latest months, their relationship has turn into extra strained.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reportedly used a go to to the US in May to foyer towards Ankara’s efforts to purchase fighter jets from Washington, claiming Turkey was violating Greek airspace.
Turkey has accused Greece of arming Aegean islands that are supposed to be demilitarised, underneath worldwide legislation, and it has additionally been alarmed by Greece’s rising defence co-operation with the US and France.
In September, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece that “we could come suddenly one night”, including: “We will not fail to defend our country’s rights and interests against Greece by using all the means at our disposal, when necessary”.
The European Commission stated final month that the Turkish threats had been “unacceptable”, calling on Ankara to “seriously work on de-escalating tension”.
‘Aggressive revisionist agenda’
Also in September, Mr Mitsotakis instructed the UN General Assembly that Turkey was “building a comprehensive narrative of false claims in the Aegean” and pursuing an “ever more aggressive revisionist agenda”.
He added: “What is particularly alarming is the growing intensity of the threats.”
On Sunday, Mr Dendias stated Turkey had sharply elevated its overflights and violations of Greek airspace and that its behaviour was serving a “revisionist narrative”.
“The one responsible for a de-escalation is the one causing the escalation – which is Turkey,” he added.
Mr Dendias stated Turkish claims that Greece can’t be an equal participator diplomatically, politically and militarily had been “an insulting approach”.
Source: information.sky.com”