German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz has condemned Turkey’s position challenging Greece’s sovereignty over its Aegean islands.
In a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Thursday, Scholz said: “It is not acceptable for a NATO ally to question another one’s sovereignty.”
Scholz, who had toured the Acropolis with Mitsotakis earlier in the day, said that differences between Greece and Turkey “can be resolved through dialogue and based on international law,” maintaining that “good neighbourly relations are of importance not only for the two countries but for Europe and the transatlantic alliance as a whole.”
Καλημέρα @kmitsotakis. Die Akropolis ist beeindruckend. Die gemeinsame Besichtigung mit Dir eine tolle Idee. Gleich sprechen wir über die wichtige Frage, wie wir die hohen Energiepreise runter kriegen. Gut ist: 🇩🇪 und 🇬🇷arbeiten eng zusammen – sind Freunde in der #EU und #NATO. pic.twitter.com/J0K0EjhSgc
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) October 27, 2022
For his part, Mitsotakis said: “There is no room for other, unnecessary sources of tension.”
“My wish is that, even with delay, our neighbours will choose the road of de-escalation, of legality, of peaceful coexistence without rhetorical outbursts but with constructive actions,” the Greek Prime Minister added.
“On my side, Turkey will always find me ready to extend a hand of friendship. We don’t have any room for further needless sources of tension.”
Υποδέχθηκα σήμερα τον Καγκελάριο της Ομοσπονδιακής Δημοκρατίας της Γερμανίας, τον φίλο @OlafScholz, με τον οποίον συνεργαζόμαστε για τους κοινούς στόχους της ηπείρου μας. https://t.co/gNYEYeCNUY pic.twitter.com/417k5mGOMU
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 27, 2022
Mitsotakis said it was “truly a shame” that Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan “can’t see that he is walking into a dead end when he poisons his people with lies against Greece. Because our neighbours and all our allies know that the Greek islands do not threaten anyone.”
The pair revisited Greece’s demand for WWII operations from Germany, with the Greek Prime Minister urging Berlin to repay a forced loan dating from Nazi occupation.
“Differences are to be bridged,” Mitsotakis said.
Berlin says the issue was settled long ago.
Scholz, who arrived on Athens on Wednesday evening
arrived in Athens on Wednesday evening, visited the Acropolis on Thursday morning.
