In an interview on Thema 104.6 FM with journalists Babis Koutras and Nikos Felekis, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis sent Turkey the message that Greece will respond to any provocation in the field, as well as internationalise the issue.
He highlighted that Turkey cannot dictate the type and tone of foreign policy Greece exercises. He also expressed the opinion that Turkey sees a strategic impasse in the policy it has been exercising of late, noting that the “charm offensive” towards the EU does not seem to be getting the results Ankara wanted. “This positive agenda doesn't appear to be taking shape, so Turkey is continuing to provoke tension,” he said.
Regarding the discussion of sanctions at the March meeting of the European Council, Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored that the matter is still on the table, as is the issue of Turkey’s violation of the European acquis, which concerns not just Greek-Turkish relations, but also EU-Turkish relations as a whole.
February 22, 2021