A clear response to the new Turkish allegations regarding the defensive fortification of the Greek islands was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejecting the claims of Greece’s “instrumentalization” and reminding Ankara that it continues to keep in force the threat of war, the casus belli, in the event that Athens exercises a lawful sovereign right.
Responding to a journalist’s question regarding yesterday’s statements by the Turkish Foreign Minister, the MFA spokesperson Panagiotis Giannakoulias stressed that Greece shapes its foreign policy “sovereignly and independently” and is not externally determined.
At the same time, he categorically rejected the claims that Greece is being used with the aim of destabilizing the region, noting that “they bear no relation to reality”. As he underlined, the country has proven in practice that it works consistently for regional and international peace and stability and does not constitute a threat to anyone.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made particular reference to the issue of the defense of the Greek islands, clarifying that Greece, like every country, ensures the defense and security of its entire territory.
In the same context, he once again rejected the Turkish demands for demilitarization, pointing out that Ankara’s “repeated unilateral allegations” regarding the Greek islands of the Aegean lack legal basis in International Law and have repeatedly been rejected in their entirety by the Greek side.
Mr. Giannakoulias further noted that the status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is clearly defined by the international treaties in force and underlined Greece’s right, as a sovereign state, to take all necessary measures for the defense of its territory.
Athens, in fact, turns the Turkish argument about “threat” on its head, referring directly to the casus belli that remains in force.
“The characterization of the defensive fortification of Greek territory as a "threat" is not only unfounded, but also oxymoronic, when, in violation of International Law, Turkey continues to keep in force a threat of war (casus belli) against Greece in the event of the exercise of a lawful sovereign right,” he stated characteristically.
Finally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear that Athens continues to seek dialogue and good-neighborly relations with Turkey, setting, however, respect for International Law as a necessary prerequisite.
“Greece remains committed to good-neighborly relations and dialogue, which, however, presuppose full respect for International Law and abstention from threats and unfounded claims,” the MFA spokesperson concluded.
SOURCE: ANA