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In an exclusive interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg downplayed Turkey’s provocations against Greece, calling them “disagreements between countries” and saying, among other things, that in the past “there have been accidents between Greek and Turkish forces, we should do everything we can to help reduce the risk of such accidents in the future. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid a recurrence of such situations. ”
Stoltenberg straddled the fence on the contentious issues between Greece and Turkey, avoiding condemning Turkish provocations, and calling on both sides “to resolve their differences in the Aegean in a spirit of trust and allied solidarity.”
At the same time, he stressed that in the current difficult circumstances, allies, as he called Greece and Turkey should not make provocative statements or actions.
Stoltenberg did stress the very positive role of Greece in the current crisis in Ukraine, characterising it as a “pillar of stability” and a “reliable ally” in the southeastern wing of NATO.
At the same time, he underlined that it was necessary to find a solution for the immediate accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, by finding appropriate answers to, what he called, Turkey’s “serious concerns” concerning terrorism.
Continuing he said that the Mediterranean is vital to NATO. “Greece, Turkey, many Allies, and other countries operate there on a regular basis. There have been accidents with Greek and Turkish forces in the past and we must do everything we can to help reduce the risk of such accidents in the future. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid a recurrence of such situations. In 2020, NATO helped create a military disengagement mechanism between Greece and Turkey to reduce the risk of incidents in the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes an open line of communication between Greece and Turkey, to facilitate disengagement at sea or in the air. ”
Then he urged Greece and Turkey to resolve their differences in the Aegean “in a spirit of trust and allied solidarity. “It means restraint, moderation, and abstention from any action or rhetoric that could escalate the situation. “At a time when Putin’s war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe, it is even more important for the Allies to be united.”
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