Turkey’s foreign ministry said statements by the European Union and the Czech Republic, which holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, concerning a dispute with Greece had “no meaning or value”.
Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç said one-sided EU support for Greece was against international law and its own rules. It followed criticism by the Czech Republic of statements by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday, which included a threat to “come at night” should Athens continue with its militarisation of islands near Turkey’s coastline.
“The EU’s unquestioning support for Greece in the Aegean and Mediterranean conflicts on the grounds of membership solidarity is against both the EU’s own acquis and international law,” Bilgiç said. “This attitude, which pampers Greece, encourages non-solution, no solution, and supports Greece’s pursuit of maximalist demands.”
Turkey will continue to resolutely defend its legitimate rights and interests in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, he said.
“It is a disgrace that those who made these statements ignore the violations, harassment and threats, provocative actions and discourse of Greece against our country, and remain indifferent to the acts and practices that are against international law,” Bilgiç added.
The Czech Foreign Ministry termed Erdoğan’s remarks as “unacceptable” in a statement at the weekend. Such comments were “extremely unhelpful” as it sought to foster dialogue between Turkey and the EU, it said.
Bilgiç said that if Prague wanted to encourage good relations then Turkey-EU ties “should be spared from the narrow-minded Greek, Greek Cypriot veto that undermines EU solidarity and common interests.”
Ahval