Famous “Earthquake Diplomacy” between Greece and Turkey did not last long – as not otherwise expected. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu brought back on the agenda the Turkish claims questioning the Greek sovereignty over islands in the Aegean Sea.
In an interview on Monday, the Turkish FM said that there are islands in the Aegean “whose sovereignty has not been determined” and where there are “violations,” in an apparent return to the questioning of Greek sovereignty over its islands in the region.
“There is the issue of the airspace that they [the Greeks] claim from 6 miles to 10 miles, as well as some statements about the extension of territorial waters from 6 to 12 miles,” Cavusoglu said.
“All these issues are issues of disputes that have not been resolved for many years. We have to decide how to resolve them. Shall we have a one-on-one consultation? In my opinion, we should discuss everything as a package. Because if we solve only one issue, the tension will continue in another,” he added.
“We will go to an international court”, Cavusoglu added, setting a relevant agreement between the two countries as a condition. “And we must not be selective, we must address all issues. As long as we don’t resolve these issues, there will be a positive atmosphere in the interim, but then there will be a breach, then a dogfight, there will be tension in the airwaves and maybe even an accident. In other words, anything can happen and this positive atmosphere can disappear soon.”
Greece’s reaction
Greece “should be optimistic but also careful and not naive” as regards Greek-Turkish relations, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has said.
“It would be wrong for Greece not to reach out a hand corresponding to that which Turkey is extending,” Dendias said in an interview with private broadcaster SKAI TV, underlining that the “chances of success are few but it is our national duty to attempt it.”
“Turkey’s long-term interests converge with those of Greece and if the leadership reaches the same conclusion, this would be something positive,” he pointed out.
The minister said that there was an unofficial consensus between the two sides that could, after the elections, lead to an effort for resuming a serious dialogue in order to “find a solution to our [sole] difference.”
