Response of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A. Yennimatas, to a journalist’s question concerning statements made by the Turkish Minister of Defence

Since Turkey claims to respect good neighbourly relations, it should learn to respect international law as it stands, and not in the arbitrary way interprets it.

Turkey should work towards de-escalating tensions and building trust and must desist from continuous fruitless provocations.

The raising of such issues by the Turkish side, particularly when it threatens with war a sovereign country, in the case it exercises a legitimate sovereign right stemming from international law, does not rise to the level or relations that Greece, as a democratic and European country, wishes to foster with all its neighbouring countries.