Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Kyriakos: Turkey’s Objections of Greece's Sovereignty over Aegean Islands Absurd


Wed 15 Jun 2022 | 11:01 AM
Rana Atef

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday that Turkey's continued questioning about the sovereignty over the Aegean islands is "absurd."

Mitsotakis said in an interview for the state-owned ERT late on Tuesday: “Turkey’s objections, as they were phrased in the latest letters to the United Nations, are absolutely absurd as they raise questions about Greece's sovereignty over its islands."

The Prime Minister said: “We cannot have any discussion over the absurd.”

In the same context, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg asked both Greece and Turkey to end their conflicts over the Aegean Sea.

“Diverse views and debate are an essential part of our democracies,” Stoltenberg told Greek news agency ANA.

Shortly, he added: “We urge Greece and Turkey to solve their differences in the Aegean in a spirit of trust and Allied solidarity.”

“That means restraint and moderation, and refraining from any actions or rhetoric that could escalate the situation.”

Last week, Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to demilitarize islands of the Aegean Sea, asserting that he was “not joking” regarding his demands.

Turkey claimed that Greece seeks to make a military presence in the Aegean Islands which Turkey named violations of the international treaties.

The Turkish president said: “We invite Greece to stop arming the islands that have non-military status and to act in accordance with international agreements.“

His statements came during the final day of the military drills that took place near Izmir, on Turkey’s Aegean coast.

Erdogan asserted: “I’m not joking, I’m speaking seriously. This nation is determined.”

The two Mediterranean countries have a long history of tensions and exchanged accusations.