President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned Greece to demilitarize islands in the Aegean, saying he was “not kidding” with the warning. He said this on the last day of military exercises taking place near Izmir, on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, reports AP.
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Turkey believes that Greece is building up its military presence on the islands in violation of treaties guaranteeing their unarmed status.
“We suggest that Greece stop militarizing the islands that have a non-military status and act in accordance with international agreements,” Erdogan said. “I’m not joking, I’m serious. This nation is determined,” he added.
Greece and Turkey are NATO allies, but neighboring countries have a history of disputes over a range of issues, including mineral exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and competition in the Aegean.
“We warn Greece to stay away from dreams and actions that it will regret, and we urge you to come to your senses,” the Turkish leader continued. “Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean just as it will not renounce the exercise of its rights arising from international agreements,” he said.
Greece argues that Turkey is deliberately misinterpreting the treaties and says it has legitimate grounds to defend itself in the wake of Ankara’s hostile actions, including a long-standing threat of war if Greece expands its territorial waters.
In Athens, Greek government spokesman Yannis Oikonomou said Greece was responding to Turkish “provocations” with “calmness and determination.”
“It is clear to everyone that our country has improved its geostrategic and geopolitical presence, as well as its deterrent capacity, in order to be able to protect its national sovereignty and sovereign rights at any time,” he said.
Read also: Erdogan opposed the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO
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