TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY: Press Release Regarding the Actions of the Greek Minister of National Defense in the Aegean

We consider the recent actions and statements, which are raising the tensions in the Aegean, of the Greek Minister of National Defense, who follows a provocative attitude towards Turkey since coming into office, as unacceptable. We invite the Greek Government to display common sense and to take these irresponsible actions under control as soon as possible. It is clear that the continuation of these irresponsible actions will not serve any purpose other than increasing tensions in Turkish and Greek relations and in the Aegean. It is also obvious that this attitude will harm the efforts towards the improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries and the settlement of disputes in the Aegean.
We announce once again to all concerned parties that Turkey is determined to protect her rights and interests in the Aegean by taking measures within the framework of international law. We emphasize once again the necessity of using the existing diplomatic dialogue mechanisms in order to resolve Aegean disputes.