Greece warns retaliating against Turkish incitement by imposing sanctions

Athens – Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias warned that if Turkey continues its inciting acts, like an enemy, Greece will initiate more aggressive steps like imposing sanctions. Indications are that the Greek and Turkish leaders will meet at the NATO meeting scheduled for next week. However, before the meeting, Turkey has once again started making inciting statements. Against this background, Greece has issued a warning to Turkey.

Tension is reigning between Greece and Turkey over the oil reserves in the Mediterranean Sea region. Turkey had incited Greece by sending research and oil exploration ships to the marine region near Greece. Greece has taken a very aggressive stand against it and has initiated steps to increase its defence preparedness. Last year, a strong possibility was created to spark a conflict between Greece and Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea region. But the conflict was averted with mediation from European Union and the United States. Nevertheless, although the conflict was avoided, the tension still prevails in the region.

Since the last few days, Turkish leaders have started a spate of inciting statements against Greece. During his visit to Greece, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu referred to the minority in the Western Thrace region as the minority of the Turkish clan. After that, Turkish President Recep Erdogan referred to the Ottoman empire and said that Turkey is prepared to defend the Ottoman empire’s regions. He had also bragged that Greece was intimidated by the Turkish naval might and capabilities demonstrated during the exercises.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar warned that Greece should withdraw its military deployments from the islands in the Aegean Sea region. Following that, Omar Selic, the spokesman of the ruling AKP party, made a statement that the French warships present in the Mediterranean Sea cannot resolve the dispute between Greece and Turkey. At the same time, he also said that Turkey would not bow against pressures from European Union or anyone else.

Severe repercussions of these successive statements of the Turkish leaders are being felt in Greece. Against this background, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias delivered an aggressive message to Turkey, threatening to impose sanctions. In the past, Greece had supported the move that Turkey should be included in the European Union. However, the Greek Foreign Minister warned that if Turkey continues with these inciting activities, Greece can compel the European Union to impose sanctions against turkey.

Last month, Greece started an aggressive campaign to stop the sale of weapons by the European Union members countries to Turkey. The Greek leaders presented an insistent stand that the weapons sold to Turkey could be used against Europe itself. Countries like France and Austria supported the Greek campaign.