Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has accused Greece of escalating tensions in the Aegean.
Despite the dozens of violations daily of Greek air space by Turkish fighter jets, and the daily encroachment by Turkish fishermen in Greek territorial waters, Cavusoglu told a group of diplomats that Greece is to blame.
Cavusoglu described Greece’s behaviour as peculiar, “despite the fact that Turkey always stood by Greece in its difficult moments”.
He did not elaborate on what he might have been referring to.
“During their difficult days, we were always at their side. Yet, in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, they are again increasing tensions and doing very odd things, which cannot be done. Don’t we all want the Eastern Mediterranean to develop into a region of peace and prosperity?” the Turkish foreign minister said.
Cavusoglu also blamed the Greek side in the Cyprus issue, charging that the Greek Cypriots are not cooperating and are maintaining an aggressive stance towards Turkey.
Nearly 40 percent of the island of Cyprus has been under Turkish military occupation since 1974.
“To reach a Cyprus settlement, a new process must begin. The Greek Cypriots do not want to cooperate. We saw that last year. We saw it in Geneva and at Crans Montana [where settlement talks were held],” Cavusoglu said.
