In an interview today on Real FM, with journalist Nikos Chatzinikolaou, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis stressed with regard to Turkey's provocations that “we do not want the militarisation of our diplomatic disputes, but we are determined to defend our national rights when they are infringed upon.”
Mr. Varvitsiotis also emphasised that no change can be accepted in the status of Hagia Sophia, which is a world heritage site. Noting that the monument lost its religious status under the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, he said any such move would lead to Turkey's further isolation, including in the context of the Council of Europe, of which Turkey is a member, with Greece holding the Chairmanship of the Organization for the next six months.
Regarding Turkish news reports alleging a link between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Gulen case, the Alternate Minister underscored that the Ecumenical Patriarch is a global religious leader and that any insult to his person would in no way help the image of Turkey, which wants to be seen secular state that respects religious freedoms.
May 18, 2020