Turkish FM calls Greece "safe haven for terrorist organizations"

Türkiye on November 2 slammed Greece over its "insincere" and "dishonest" position on the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean issues.

Speaking at an event by the Political, Economic and Social Research Foundation (SETA), a think tank based in the Turkish capital Ankara, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Athens blocks the pathway to justice on existing issues, Anadolu reports.

Commenting on the status of the current relations, Cavusoglu said that Greece is "very uneasy" about Türkiye's growing regional influence.

"But a smart neighbour would be pleased with that and would use it for its own advantage," he said.

The Turkish minister also cited the rise in the "anti-Türkiye lobby" in Greece and the "lack of strategic vision of Greece" as the reason for the current frost in ties.

Cavusoglu criticized Greece for being a "safe haven for many terrorist organizations like the PKK and FETO," and said Athens did not respond to Ankara's call to establish a joint centre for fighting terrorism.

He further said Greece violates the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace and it perceives the Aegean as a "Greek Sea" only while disregarding Türkiye's rights and interests.

"At least 16 of 23 islands in the Aegean Sea, which should have been demilitarized according to agreements, are armed by Greece," he added.

Expressing Ankara's readiness to resolve disputes if Greece wants to, Cavusoglu said it is not possible due to Athens disregarding the exploratory talks.

"Greece is blocking the pathway for international law and jurisprudence to resolve problems," he said, adding that it tries to "impose their maximalist understanding" on Türkiye.