In the latest of a series of aggressive statements between Greek and Turkish high ranking officials over the sovereignty of the Imia islands in the Aegean Sea, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos responded to Turkey’s Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu’s threat that Turkey could set foot on the isle whenever it wanted. In a interview on Skai TV Sunday, Mr. Kammenos said: “There is no way Cavusoglu can step onto a Greek island. If they want to they can see. I’ll see how they will get off the island if they set foot there”. Mr. Kammenos said that any kind of provocation by Turkey will be answered by Greece, adding that the Greek public can rest assured that the Greek armed forces can deal with any threat. Commenting on the provocative stance by the Turks, Mr. Kammenos said that their (Turkey’s) efforts to galvanise extreme right elements of the “Grey Wolves” party and take them into the fold of the government is a dangerous tactic for the region. “The staged provocations by the Turks produce hilarity”, he said. Mr. Kammenos’s response comes on the heels of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias’s reply to his Turkish counterpart on Saturday. The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement against the Turkish Foreign Minister hinting that Turkey was abandoning western cultural values and regressing to Ottoman-style politics.