Turkey: Messages from Athens and Washington after Cavusoglu’s saber rattling

Turkish officials continue to act out of control, with the latest episode being Mevlut Cavusoglu’s warmongering.

The incendiary statements and reports of the Turkish Foreign Minister on the possible extension of Greek territorial waters to 12 miles south and west of Crete, provoked the anger of Athens and the strong reaction of the USA.

“Not 12 miles, not one,” said the Turkish foreign minister, according to Turkish media, during the usual press conference before the end of the year while recalling the casus belli he added:

“The decision was taken by our National Assembly in 1995 and the matter is clear and the decision remains in force.”

Tough response from Athens

Athens immediately responded in harsh language to the new Turkish provocations. Initially with the government representative Giannis Economou and later by the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The government spokesman Yannis Economou, in his announcement, underlined that Greece is “neither intimidated nor terrorized” while he characterized the tactics of threats and provocations, in which Turkey indulges, as a dead end.

In detail, Mr. Economou stated:

“Greece is neither intimidated nor terrorised,” government spokesperson Yiannis Economou underlined on Thursday responding to threatening statements by Turkish officials against Greece.
“The Greek government governs based solely on international law and national interests,” Economou said adding that: “The tactic of threats and provocations, which Turkey follows, is an absolute impasse since Greece is neither intimidated nor terrorised. It would be useful for Turkish officials to think about the deadlock and not continue on the same path and in the new year.”

“Turkey should understand at last the rules that all the civilised and well-governed countries follow. To threaten with the use of violence because you do not like rules, calls to mind other centuries and certainly not the 21st” underlined Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Giorgos Arnaoutis on Thursday answering a press question on the statements of Turkish officials.

He also said that it is suprsining for the one who threatens to demand in parallel from the attacked to deprive itself of the legal protection measures of its sovereignty. “The neighbourhood does not need trouble makers or anachronist revisionisms. It needs countries that respect the international law, as Greece which has proved through agreements it has signed with neighbouring countries based on the international law of the sea” he clarified.

“Our neighborhood does not need trouble, it does not need anachronistic revisionism. It needs states that respect International Law, such as Greece, which has demonstrated this through agreements it has made with neighboring countries based on the International Law of the Sea.

In the crude and unprecedented threat of violence by modern standards, Greece puts forward the rules, exercising all the rights derived from International Law”.

State Department v. Cavusoglu

The State Department commented on Mevlut Cavusoglu’s threats of war against Greece, urging Turkey to avoid fueling the tension as, as it emphasizes, at this time “unity is needed more among our allies”.

Unity is needed

“At a time when unity is most needed among our Allies, the United States regrets the escalation of provocative statements. We urge all our Allies to avoid threats and provocative rhetoric that will only increase tension and help no one,” the State Department notes and adds:

“We continue to encourage our NATO Allies, Greece and Turkey, to work together to maintain peace and security in the region and to resolve disputes diplomatically. Greece and Turkey are both strong partners and key NATO allies of the United States.”