Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Thursday expressed his concern about the escalation in Turkish rhetoric, while speaking to political correspondents in Greek Parliament.
What was happening was very distressing, Dendias said, adding that the issue of the islands has never been raised. Unfortunately, he added, the real problem, if there was one, was that Turkey and Turkish public opinion were becoming trapped by it.
Following the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, the Turkish leadership has made choices that leave no scope for negotiation, Dendias said. He noted, however, that (because of Turkey’s behaviour) there has been international backlash.
Asked what happened after the meeting between Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the Bosphorus, Dendias said that he himself was very much in favour of this meeting. “The picture I got was that it had gone extremely well but what happened after the meeting, from Turkey’s side, is completely impossible for me to divine,” said Dendias, noting that it does not change the fact that the situation is continuously deteriorating.
Dendias also pointed out that Ankara’s behaviour has boxed in Greek-Turkish relations, despite the innumerable chances given by Greece. In particular, regarding the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, which includes a Turkish military presence in Libya, he noted that this locks Turkey into a continuous course of conflict with Egypt. Why, asked the foreign minister, would someone in Turkey with foresight choose this strategy, which leads to dead ends and dangerous paths?
Latest News
Foreign-Owned Businesses in Greece Thrive in Trade and Services
Despite government efforts to attract foreign investment, only 0.6% of all businesses across Greece are foreign-owned.
41st Athens Marathon- Traffic Regulations in Athens from Thursday to Sunday
Traffic regulations will be implemented gradually, starting from Thursday, as part of the 41st Athens Marathon.
Greek Households Most Pessimistic in Europe: IOBE Report
Over six in ten (65%) of households said that their financial situation worsened over the past year
JP Morgan Remains ‘Bullish’ on Greek Banks
JP Morgan reiterated its analysis of DTCs, prompted by Piraeus Bank’s plan to accelerate their amortization
Source of Wealth Declarations for Greek Public Officials Made Easier
Source of wealth declarations are designed to improve transparency and prevent corruption among Greece's public officials. Yet 98% of Greeks still believe corruption is widespread in the country, according to Eurobarometer.
Greece’s Labor Market Slack Among Highest in EU
Greece ranks 4th in EU for labor market slack, mostly due to high unemployment levels, and has widest gender gap in the EU.
Livestock Crisis Threatens Greek Feta
Feta in particular, is Greece’s primary dairy export, with 65% of production going abroad.
Moldova’s Sandu Wins Second Term amid Meddling Claims
According to the Central Election Commission, with 98% of votes counted, Maia Sandu led with 54.35% to Alexandr Stoianoglo’s 45.65%
Attica Wins ‘Best Greek Hospitality Region’ at 2024 Awards
The Greek Hospitality Awards, now in their tenth year, are one of the premier tourism industry events at the European level
Greece Takes Command of EU’s Operation ASPIDES in Red Sea
The defense minister also visited the Greek frigate Spetsai, which is participating in Operation ASPIDES, while in the port of Djibouti