Erdogan accuses Greece of ‘occupying’ demilitarised islands

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Greece on Saturday of occupying islands within the Aegean Sea which have a demilitarised standing, and mentioned Turkey was ready to “do what is critical” when the time comes.

Historic rivals whereas additionally being fellow members of NATO, Turkey and Greece have been at odds over points starting from overflights and the standing of Aegean islands to maritime boundaries and hydrocarbon assets within the Mediterranean, in addition to ethnically cut up Cyprus.

Ankara has lately accused Athens of arming the demilitarised Aegean islands – one thing Athens rejects, however Erdogan had not beforehand accused Greece of occupying them.

“Your occupying the islands doesn’t bind us. When the time, the hour, comes, we’ll do what is critical,” Erdogan mentioned, talking within the northern province of Samsun.

Greece reacted by saying it won’t observe Turkey in its “outrageous every day slide” of statements and threats.

“We’ll inform our allies and companions on the content material of the provocative statements … to make it clear who’s setting dynamite to the cohesion of our alliance throughout a harmful interval,” the international ministry mentioned.

Turkey has lately been angered by what it mentioned is harassment of its jets by Greek forces. Ankara has mentioned that S-300 air defence techniques utilized by Greece had locked on to Turkish jets throughout a routine flight.

Turkey celebrated Victory Day on Aug. 30, a nationwide vacation commemorating Turkish forces driving out Greek forces in 1922. On Saturday, Erdogan additionally referred to as on Greece to “not neglect Izmir”, referring to the Turkish victory.

As Erdogan prepares for what’s shaping as much as be the largest electoral problem of his practically 20-year rule in 2023, the president has performed up achievements within the international stage. He has additionally stepped up his rhetoric on international coverage.

Ankara says the Aegean islands got to Greece below the 1923 and 1947 treaties provided that it doesn’t arm them. International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly mentioned Turkey would begin questioning Greek sovereignty over the islands if Athens continued in arming them.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has mentioned Turkey’s place of questioning Greece’s sovereignty over the islands is “absurd”.

(Reporting by Ali KucukgocmenAdditional reporting by George Georgiopoulos in Athens,Modifying by Helen Popper and Frances Kerry)