April 15, local time, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and visiting Greek Foreign Minister Dendis held a joint press conference. At the meeting, the foreign ministers of the two countries engaged in a heated debate over the eastern Mediterranean dispute and the refugee issue.
At the start of the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it was not the right way to resolve the issue through a third party through constructive dialogue between the two countries, adding that the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers would meet in Geneva at the end of this month.
Greek Foreign Minister Dendis said he welcomed the dialogue between the two countries and supported Turkey’s accession to the European Union. But he also said he wanted to avoid provocations and reject violations of Cyprus’ sovereignty, saying Turkey was taking advantage of the refugee issue.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded by saying he could not accept Mr. Dendiaz’s accusations against Turkey. “I have to respond if you seriously accuse my country in front of the media,” he said. Then the foreign ministers of the two countries began a number of rounds of debate, the atmosphere was tense.
Cavusoglu said Turkey’s actions were taken to defend its rights and did not use the refugee issue against Europe or Greece, and accused Greece of failing to comply with the island’s demilitarization requirements.
‘Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea violate international law, the EU is not a third party and Greece is proud to be a member of the EUROPEAN Union, ‘ Mr. Dendias said. Greece is deploying soldiers on the islands concerned because of the threat there.
