​​​​​​​ATHENS 

Greece seeks to expand its territorial waters and create a second maritime park in the Aegean Sea, the country's foreign minister said Friday, according to local media.

​​​​​​​Speaking in parliament to independent lawmakers, George Gerapetritis underlined the government’s efforts to consolidate maritime sovereignty, the daily Kathimerini reported.

The creation of the first Aegean marine park, the completion of the country’s marine spatial planning framework, and maritime delimitation agreements with Egypt and Italy are among the steps the conservative New Democracy government has taken since 2019, he said.

Gerapetritis argued that Türkiye’s Blue Homeland doctrine is “expansionist,” and hence, unacceptable.

But he added, Greece has stronger legal and diplomatic arguments than ever, supported by European Union standards.

Gerapetritis highlighted that dialogue with Türkiye would continue, but Greece’s national sovereignty remains nonnegotiable.

Gepateritis’ remarks followed a call he had Monday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during which they touched on relations and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ anticipated visit to Türkiye in February.