Athens responded immediately to the statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the supposed “demilitarized status” of the Aegean islands, prompted by the Patriots on Karpathos. The spokesperson for the Greek Foreign Ministry, Lana Zochiou, described the claims as “unfounded” and “unilateral allegations” that have been repeatedly rejected.

In her statement, Ms. Zochiou said that “the status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is governed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the 1936 Montreux Convention, and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, to which Turkey is not even a contracting party,” noting that “these treaties leave no doubt about the status of the islands.”

“The defensive deployment of Greece is non-negotiable,” she clarified.

According to the spokesperson, the state of conflict in the wider region “requires the necessary defensive preparedness of the country. The prevailing uncertainty and the risk of further escalation of the war call for prudence and composure, not for weak statements.”

Yesterday morning, a landing ship of the Hellenic Navy arrived at the port of Pigadia in Karpathos, followed by the unloading of Patriot anti-aircraft systems.

The response of the Foreign Ministry spokesperson

Unilateral claims about the demilitarization of the Aegean islands are unfounded and have been repeatedly rejected in their entirety. The status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is governed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the 1936 Montreux Convention, and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, to which Turkey is not even a contracting party.

These treaties leave no doubt about the status of the islands.

Greece’s defensive deployment is non-negotiable. The state of conflict in our wider neighborhood requires the country’s necessary defensive preparedness. The prevailing uncertainty and the risk of further escalation of the war call for prudence and composure, not for weak statements.