ANKARA
The recent actions and statements of the Greek Minister of National Defense are unacceptable and raising the tensions in the Aegean, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
"We invite the Greek Government to display common sense and to take these irresponsible actions under control as soon as possible," the ministry said in a press release.
In February, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said the Cyprus problem remains a subject 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."
Kammenos also said Greece plans to conduct a joint drill with the Greek Cypriot administration, Israel and possibly Egypt in the coming months.
"It is clear that the continuation of these irresponsible actions will not serve any purpose other than increasing tensions in Turkish and Greek relations and in the Aegean," Turkish statement said.
"It is also obvious that this attitude will harm the efforts towards the improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries and the settlement of disputes in the Aegean."
It is also stressed in the statement that Turkey is determined to protect her rights and interests in the Aegean "by taking measures within the framework of international law."
