Greece does not hesitate to repeat its anti-Turkey lies at every opportunity. President of TURK Maritime and Global Strategies Center (TURKDEGS), Resigned Rear Admiral Assoc. Dr. Cihat Yaycı, evaluated to our newspaper the statement of Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopulos against Turkey, which "threatens the peace in the region".
"Greek Minister also made a statement last year saying, 'We are ready for war with Turkey…' and revealed both the dimensions of the language of threat and why a healthy dialogue cannot be established with Greece. Passing over the Greek arrogance with common words will not satisfy the Turkish public anymore and will not prevent irreversible losses," Yaycı said.
Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopulos used statements against Turkey in a panel he attended and claimed that Turkey had acted against international law and that there was a risk of destabilizing the entire region.
Assoc. Dr. Cihat Yaycı, stated that Panagiotopoulos has an image that is quite contrary to the profile of a statesman.
"It also hinders NATO's coordination and policy-making, due to its attitudes contrary to diplomatic language and international courtesy. On the other hand, due to this provocative attitude and language of Greece, tensions are also increasing in the Sea of Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek Defense Minister Panagiotopoulos is a highly provocative and offensive figure. He also made a statement last year saying, 'We are ready for war with Turkey…' and revealed both the dimensions of the language of threat and why a healthy dialogue cannot be established with Greece. The unlawful demands and unjust activities of Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean are consistent with the rude and provocative language of Panagiotopoulos," Yaycı added.
Indicating that the Greek Ministry of Defense has committed many unlawful acts, but most importantly, human rights violations in the Sea of Islands, Yaycı said, "The Greek coast guard elements, directly by the order of the Ministry of Defense, exploded the boats of dozens of refugees, including babies, the elderly and the disabled, and unfortunately caused these people to drown. Panagiotopoulos is the creator and architect of dozens of heartbreaking tragedies in the Sea of Islands. The Greek government pursues a policy that does not respect international standards of human rights and refugee protection, and even aggressively violates them at the hands of their defense ministers. For this reason, we can say that this rude and unlawful attitude towards Turkey suits the Greek Minister Panagiotopoulos the most."
“WE WILL GIVE THE NECESSARY ANSWER ON THE FIELD”
"Turkey has fairly demonstrated its respect for the sovereignty and law of other countries, with both the Libya Agreement and its general attitude in the Middle East. It is essential that we continue to defend our national interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Sea of Islands, without compromising our sovereign rights. Turkey is in a very good position in terms of both diplomatic power and strategic opportunities. Realizing that it cannot cope with a power of this potential, Greece is trying to provoke Turkey with all its staff. This attitude and style of Panagiotopoulos once again showed that it is impossible to develop a healthy dialogue and diplomacy with Greece under these conditions. Turkey will show the necessary answer in the field by not addressing this attitude and style in the Eastern Mediterranean and by defending its sovereign rights in every sense," Yaycı added.