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Erdogan's threats to demilitarise Greek islands, US reacts

2022-06-11 08:05:16Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Erdogan's threats to demilitarise Greek islands, US reacts
Turkish President Erdogan during observation of a military exercise

The United States on Friday called for avoiding tense rhetoric, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to demilitarise the islands in the Aegean Sea, adding that it was "not joking" with the warning.

"We invite Greece to stop arming islands that have non-military status and act in accordance with international agreements. I'm not kidding, I'm talking seriously. Turkey is determined," Erdogan said.

A State Department spokesman told the Voice of America that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected and protected.

"We continue to encourage our NATO allies, Greece and Turkey to work together to maintain peace and security in the region and resolve disputes diplomatically," the spokesman said.

"We call on our allies to avoid rhetoric that could further increase tensions. For the United States, Greece and Turkey are both strong partners and key NATO allies," the State Department's response continues.

Greece and Turkey have long had disagreements over issues like sea borders and claims in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as airspace, migrants and ethnically divided Cyprus.

Tensions have flared again recently over the Aegean islands, which Ankara says cannot be armed under international treaties.

In his address while attending Turkish military exercises near the Aegean coastal region of Izmir, Mr Erdogan called on Athens to "avoid dreams, actions and statements that would result in repentance" and cited Turkey's struggle for independence in the early 1920s, when the Turks defeated the occupier powers, including Greece.

"Turkey will not give up its rights in the Aegean and will not withdraw from the use of rights defined by international agreements when it comes to arming islands," Mr Erdogan said.

Last week Erdogan announced that Turkey was halting all bilateral talks with Greece over a dispute with the Greek prime minister and what Ankara calls airspace violations.

The two had resumed bilateral talks in 2021 to improve ties after a five-year hiatus, but have made little progress.

Ankara says the Aegean islands were given to Greece under the 1923 and 1947 treaties provided it had no weapons there.

Greece has said Turkey's comments on arming the islands are "baseless" and has accused Ankara of questioning its sovereignty over them.

On Thursday, Greece's Foreign Ministry released 16 maps, which it said "describe, in a clear way, Turkey's illegal, unilateral actions and claims."

Both countries have sent letters to the United Nations presenting their rival positions in airspace and islands.


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