Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar took aim against Greece once again, accusing it of the militarisation of Greek islands and the new arms race and alliances of our country, which have become a severe thorn for Ankara.

Speaking to Turkish newspaper Sabah, Akar accused Greece of militarising the Aegean islands and violating the Lausanne Treaty, arguing that other countries are instigating the move. “We say that people on both sides should take advantage of the wealth of the Aegean and live together in security and prosperity, but our neighbouring Greece and especially some politicians are doing the opposite. They say that ‘We have now armed the islands’. In essence, they admit it. This is a violation of the Lausanne Treaty. As long as the treaty is in force those islands can not be armed. Behind them, there are some countries that are egging them on and provoking. And they come out and declare that ‘We will be armed’.”

Reiterating earlier statements, Akar claimed that the new Greek armaments “impoverish” the Greek people, stressing that “there are some Greek diplomats, retirees and academics” who disagree with the government’s policy towards Turkey. Despite the problematic economic situation in which they find themselves, they are spending excessively to buy weapons, putting the Greek people in serious problems. There are some Greek diplomats, retirees, and academics who see this. With the armaments you achieve nothing, it is a futile endeavour” he said, asking for cooperation from Greece and interpreting once again the International Law and the Law of the Sea, according to the Turkish interests.

“Abandon provocative actions and statements that raise tensions and extend a hand of friendship that we are extending. We are saying if we need to sit down and talk and reduce the exercises let’s do it. But our neighbours with exercises, with NAVTEX, and with alliances are undermining this. We are inside NATO, it must be made clear that the new artificial alliances will harm NATO.”

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