Statement comes in response to Turkish foreign ministry, which said Saturday that recent actions and statements by Greece’s defense minister are “unacceptable.”
“Turkey should keep its suggestions regarding responsibility to itself. Nothing beyond that,” Koutras said.
The statement came as a response to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which said on Saturday that the recent actions and statements of Greece’s defense minister are “unacceptable and are raising tensions in the Aegean.”
In February, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said the Cyprus problem remains a matter of “invasion and occupation” for the Greek government.
He criticized the presence of the Turkish seismic vessel Barbaros in the Exclusive Economic Zone in the eastern Mediterranean, calling it a “provocation.”
Cyprus has remained divided into Greek and Turkish parts since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in the north in 1974.
Turkey said it is determined to protect its rights and interests in the Aegean “by taking measures within the framework of international law.”
“We invite the Greek government to display common sense and to take these irresponsible actions under control as soon as possible,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
