Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed claims by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that Greece’s military presence on Aegean islands constitutes a “threat” to Turkey, calling the assertion both “unfounded” and “contradictory.” “Greece shapes its foreign policy sovereignly and independently and is not subject to external direction,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pavlos Yiannakoulias in an official statement. “Claims that Greece is allegedly being used as a tool to destabilize the region have no basis in reality,” he added, responding directly to the Turkish Foreign Minister’s remarks from the previous day.
Greek Foreign Ministry: Turkey continues to maintain its war threat against Greece
The official statement further noted: “The status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is clearly defined by existing international treaties. Greece, as a sovereign state, is fully entitled to take all necessary measures to ensure that it is able to exercise its inalienable right to legitimate self-defense.”
“Describing the defensive fortification of Greek territory as a ‘threat’ is not only unfounded but also contradictory, when, in violation of international law, Turkey continues to maintain an active war threat (casus belli) against Greece in the event that Greece exercises a legitimate sovereign right,” the statement emphasized.
Full statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pavlos Yiannakoulias
“Greece shapes its foreign policy sovereignly and independently and is not subject to external direction. Claims that Greece is allegedly being used as a tool to destabilize the region have no basis in reality. Greece has demonstrated in practice that it works consistently for regional and international peace and stability, and poses a threat to no one.
Greece ensures, as every country does, the defense and security of its entire territory.
Turkey’s repeated unilateral demands for the demilitarization of Greek Aegean islands have no legal basis under international law and have been categorically and repeatedly rejected in their entirety.
The status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is clearly defined by existing international treaties. Greece, as a sovereign state, is fully entitled to take all necessary measures to ensure that it is able to exercise its inalienable right to legitimate self-defense.
Describing the defensive fortification of Greek territory as a ‘threat’ is not only unfounded but also contradictory, when, in violation of international law, Turkey continues to maintain an active war threat (casus belli) against Greece in the event that Greece exercises a legitimate sovereign right.
Greece remains committed to good-neighborly relations and dialogue, which, however, require full respect for international law and abstention from threats and unfounded claims.”
