Greek-Turkish: Allied front against the bullies of Turkey

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Athens sends a clear message of strength and determination to its eastern neighbor and sets up a common “front” with Greece’s allies and partners.

By Penelope Galliou

While the Turkey continues their banter challenges and threats against Greece, the Greek state and political leadership send a clear message of strength and determination to the eastern neighbor and set up a common “front” with our allies and partners.

The tone of the Greek strategy was set by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakiss during the meeting he had at Megaros Maximos with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, the first after assuming her duties. The Prime Minister informed Ms. Kolonas about the escalation of Turkish provocation and threats from official lips against Greek sovereignty, stressing that the neighboring country is causing tension, undermining security and stability in the region. He emphasized that Greece is a pillar of stability in the wider region and reiterated the need for dialogue based on the principles of International Law, including the Law of the Sea, and good neighborliness.

The clear message to Turkey was preceded by the meeting the Prime Minister had with Turkey president of Slovakia, Zuzana Tsaputova referring to Turkish provocation and pointing out that it is unacceptable to have our sovereignty challenged by a NATO ally country. The Greek Prime Minister emphasized that revisionism and changing borders cannot be tolerated, as demonstrated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while he reiterated that Greece’s permanent position is dialogue based on International Law, International Law of the Sea and good neighborly relations . He also emphasized that it is unacceptable for Greece to receive threats that go as far as questioning Greek sovereignty from a country that is an ally in NATO.

The Greek-French messages in Ankara

A clear message that Turkey’s statements and actions are unacceptable and reprehensible, but also that “we are neither afraid nor afraid” and “reject the neo-Ottoman bullshit”, sent the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendiass during the press conference after the meeting with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

“We completely reject the neo-Ottoman rants. I use a word of Turkish origin, so that it is fully understood” explained Mr. Dendias, adding that Greece is not going to be carried away by delirium, it is a European country, a modern Democracy, committed to International Law, the Charter of the United Nations, the International Treaties, and is in favor of constructive dialogue, at the base always of International Law.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs made an extensive reference to the challenges and threats that Ankara launches against Greece every day and to the “timeless” Turkish casus belli as well as to the thousands of violations and overflights by manned and non-Turkish aircraft and addressing his French counterpart, he said that he does not think that this seasoned diplomat will have encountered a similar number of violations around the globe before.

For her part, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed France’s clear support for Greece, clearly declaring that France was and will continue to be by our country’s side.

Responding to a question about how France will be on Greece’s side, if the threats materialize and if there is an escalation, Katrin Colona reminded that Greece and France have signed a corporate strategic cooperation agreement and of course “Article 21 describes exactly this case, and describes that if the two parties find that there is an armed attack on the territory of one or the other country there is mutual assistance”. He reiterated, however, that “we are doing everything we can to avoid being in this situation”.

Erdogan is on an anti-Greek rampage and abroad

He was preceded by another anti-Greek delirium Tayyip Erdogan from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where when asked directly by a journalist if he is going to carry out a military operation against Greece, the Turkish president insisted on distorting reality and reversing the roles of Greece and Turkey, claiming for our country that “They have islands, they have bases on those islands, and if they continue their illegal threats, our patience will run out.” he said and continued “what I am telling you is not a fantasy. When we say that we may come overnight suddenly, when the time comes, we will come suddenly overnight” he stressed, while warning that “The ‘locking’ of our aircraft by the (Greek ) radar is not a good omen”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs commented on the new crescendo Erdogan, underlining that the Turkish side has been making more and more outrageous and unacceptable statements in recent days. The very fact of the reference to the occupation of the Greek islands is indicative of the level of the Turkish announcements, he underlined and reiterated that Greece always acts on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea and advised the “anyone who dreams of attacks and conquests, think three or four times. We are sufficient to defend our homeland, our territorial independence and integrity. And we are absolutely convinced of our alliances and the attitude of our partners. The EU has proven already in the case of Ukraine that threats and invasions beyond International Law create an unprecedented unity and a straightforward response”.

“Turkey is mainly worried because Greece is getting stronger. And it is getting stronger because for some time now we have been implementing a strengthening plan at all levels of all branches of the Armed Forces”, said the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos from Kastoria, commenting on Erdogan’s statements.
“In any case”, added Mr. Panagiotopoulos, “we prefer to respond with logic, not to raise our voices to an offensive level towards the other side and above all to respond with projects”.

Turkey’s delinquent behavior was also mentioned by President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou at the official dinner he gave to the president of Slovakia, Zuzana Tzaputova, speaking of a challenge to the entire European Union and noted that the revisionist policy of both Russia and Turkey should have a common response from the EU.

At the same length and his statements President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis who spoke about the identification of positions between Greece and Cyprus and about the coordination of the two areas, while when asked by a journalist if there is concern about the increased aggressive rhetoric of Turkey, the Cypriot President noted that “Calm is what is recommended and not to follow this descent that Turkey adopts”.

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