Turkey summons Greece's envoy over newspaper headline about Erdoğan

Minister Çavuşoğlu (Photo: AA)

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Greece's envoy over a headline in a Greece-based newspaper including vulgar expressions about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Insulting and cursing should not be seen in terms of freedom of the press, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said today (September 18) at a news conference. 

"We showed the strongest reaction," he said.

He also stressed that there is no point in embarking on new initiatives in Cyprus which are "doomed to fail."

"We have said over and over again that we will no longer negotiate for a federation on the Cyprus issue," he said.

New Navtex alert for Barbaros Hayreddin vessel

Turkey today issued a new Navtex (navigational telex) alert for Baybaros Hayreddin Paşa seismic survey vessel, stating that it would continue exploration activities until October 18.

The vessel will carry out seismic activities off Cyprus coast, an area it considers as the continental shelf of Northern Cyprus.

"Tanux" and "Apollo Moon" ships will escort the vessel, according to the Navtex alert.

Defense Minister: France adds fuel to fire

France's President Emmanuel Macron is adding fuel to the fire in the Eastern Mediterranean and making it harder to solve problems, said the Turkish defense minister on Friday.

In an exclusive interview with Britain's Channel 4 News, Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar said President Emmanuel Macron of France was "trying to take on the role of Napoleon but not strong enough for this."

Akar said Macron is trying to have some roles in the Eastern Mediterranean to obscure his problems in France.

"He is trying to play a role in the Eastern Mediterranean by coming from thousands of kilometres away," which is not right, Akar said.

He stressed that Turkey defends its rights and interests, reminding that it has approximately 2,000 kilometers (around 1,242 miles) of coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean.

NATO

On NATO's meditation efforts, Akar said while Greece is reluctant and slowing down the solution of the Eastern Mediterranean issue with some preconditions, Turkey supports holding these meetings.

Drawing attention to Greece's activities in the Aegean Sea, Akar said Greece has armed some islands, especially Meis, or Kastellorizo, in the Aegean and region in violation of international law.

"This is a violation of international law and agreements between countries. This is a threat to Turkey. This has a negative impact on good neighborly relations," he said.

"Our Greek neighbors selfishly speak about their rights. They have a tendency to ignore our rights in every condition. This is not acceptable," Akar said.

Turkey only expects respect to its rights from all parties, he noted.

EU's stance

In regard to the EU attitude to the issue, he said the EU does not contribute to the solution and has become a part of the deadlock.

He said the EU does not have any authority to set or change rules or draw borders in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On the sanction calls of EU members to Turkey, he said it is a "threatening language" that they frequently speak of sanctions in various ways.

"This attitude of the EU only raises the tension," Akar added.

The EU should understand that everyone should abide by all rules of international law, Akar stressed, adding that the bloc, especially Macron, is extremely partisan and biased on the issue.

Exploration activities

On the hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akar said Turkey is doing technical and scientific works in the region as it has done before within its continental shelf.

"We are doing this in the framework of our own rights. There is no provocation of any kind here," he highlighted.

Akar also said Turkey's work in the region consists of planned, scheduled, open, and transparent use of existing rights.

Tensions have recently escalated over the issue of energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

(EKN/VK)