Greece must withdraw its military from the Aegean islands or Turkey “will take matters further,” if Athens failed to do so, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Thursday. Ankara is prepared to challenge their sovereignty, he added.
“We are not bluffing. If Athens does not comply, we will take matters further,” Turkish daily Cumhuriyet cited Cavusoglu as told reporters on a flight back from a visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank.
“It is against international law for Greece to cancel the status of the islands conditionally given to it within the framework of the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris peace agreements. Whatever reason Greece finds, its justification is not valid. What were the terms? It will not arm these islands. Greece has armed them since 1960, so we say that if it doesn’t yield, we will start a debate on their sovereignty,” Cavusoglu said.
Çavuşoğlu reiterated Ankara’s stance that it was “against international law for Greece to cancel the status of the islands conditionally given to it within the framework of the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris peace agreements,’’ according to Cumhuriyet.
The Turkish official said that Greece’s justification was not valid and Turkey was ready to begin a debate on their sovereignty if Greece failed withdraw its military from the islands in question.
Cavusoglu’s threats come a day after Greece sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in which it “legally and historically ” and based on the Treaty of Lausanne and Paris refutes the Turkish claims.
The only “thing” Mr Erdogan is after are the income from turism on these popular islands! It is well known that Turkeys turism incomes has went down drastically in recent years. So, naturally, he wants to have these beautiful islands under his “umbrella”. Not to mention the possibility of natural gas or even oil under Kritis shelf….
Once again: Hands off and stop being a bully!!!! You are not in a sand box now, grew up!!
bark-bark-bark like a yappy little dog….
Every time these despots try to pirate they make fools of themselves.
Let them just try.
The island serve as unsinkable aircraft carriers under which no Turkish fleet can possibly pass to attack Greece.
This is why the Turks do not want them and Cyprus is a prime example of precisely why they are required.
Once then, since when has Turkey or any of its allies been on the right hand side of history.
How does Turkey, suddenly in 2020’s today, surprisingly seek to demilitarize islands that have repeatedly been proven to have absolutely nothing with the long standing peace treaties. Treaties that they even seek to rewrite in this day and age. Are they insane?
Turkey’s aggressive bellicose bravado has been reiterated in Erdogan’s closed media over the last decade that has poisoned the well. He has destroyed the people with dangerous propaganda.
No one should expect a better government in Turkey after Erdogan.
Biden’s proposal to sell them F16’s in thanks for his hate towards Russia is ludicrous. America has a leadership crisis and has alienated allies after their last dishonest president.
Turkey should not be in America’s ever so coveted NATO. This theocratic thief who lacks intelligence and morals should be removed from power to give Turkey another chance for a fresh restart again, like America did with its last elections… with an exponentially greater president who is still lightyears subpar regardless of his stagnant experience for so many years with good reason if he remotely considers selling an unlawful Turkey arms.