File photo: The Turkish drilling vessel Yavuz
The Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, has warned Turkey that there will be serious consequences if Turkey violates Greek territorial sovereignty. It is believed that Turkey intends to start drilling for oil in the Exclusive Economic Zones that are deemed territories of Greece and Cyprus under international law.
The Greek Foreign Ministry released a statement saying:
"There is no possibility of retreating. Greece has a clear obligation and will defend its rights. We have nothing else to discuss or negotiate. Turkey must respect international and maritime law. Things are serious with Turkey. All this time of the Mitsotakis government and despite the hopes, it has led the relations through an alley with unacceptable acts. The country will fully defend its sovereignty and its rights, as required by its Constitution and as any government would do."
It is believed that there may be billions of dollars of oil and natural gas under the eastern Mediterranean and Turkey is seeking to gain a large share of those reserves. Both the EU and the international community have condemned the expansionist actions of Turkey and its continued violation of international laws and norms.
The Greek government are now appealing to the EU to assist it in its protection of its territory and for sanctions to be put on Turkey should they further seek to expand their illegal influence. The Foreign Minister continued his statement:
"That is, harsh sanctions that create a huge problem for the Turkish economy. We should have this list so that we are ready. Additionally, Turkey will know where it is going and we will have made our intentions clear. Greek territory is also European territory and the EU must defend its own territory. The EU is a global superpower, provided it wants to use this enormous potential. And I imagine that there will not be any state that does not want to use the Union's capabilities to defend a member-state that is under attack from another country."
In the last year, Turkey has violated the territorial integrity of Syria by launching a full scale military invasion at the north of the country and has long-standing disagreements with Greece over islands in the Aegean Sea. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, then part of the Greek state, and continues to illegally occupy the north half of the island.
It is hoped that the US and the Western world will stand up to the ever-increasing aggression of the dictatorial Turkish state under Recep Erdogan.
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