Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras noted the following in reply to journalists’ questions concerning statements by the head of the Turkish Democratic Party (DP), Namik Kemal Zeybek, and a relevant article in the Turkish daily Hurriyet:
“Mr. Zeybek’s statements are unprecedented in their wildness. They are not worthy of comment.
As a matter of principle, we do not comment on newspaper articles. However, with regard to the alleged reaction of the Turkish Foreign Ministry to the statements in question, I must repeat that the object of the exploratory contacts is the delimitation of the continental shelf between the two countries, from Evros to Kastlorizo, and it is obvious that they do not concern and could not concern matters of sovereignty over Greek islands.
Such extreme nationalistic positions have nothing to do with the reality of the situation and they undermine bilateral relations and the efforts to achieve progress on the lingering issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf. It remains our will that there should be progress in Greek-Turkish relations; progress based on respect for international law and each country’s national sovereignty. The leadership of our neighbouring country has repeatedly declared that it shares this same will.”
May 13, 2011