Akar: "Greece dressed as a lamb is trying to play the victim"

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, speaking at an event about Sadik Ahmet, referred to the problems that exist between Greece and Turkey.

"We have some problems with Greece in the Aegean, the Mediterranean and Cyprus. These problems become deeper due to the populist and uncompromising behavior of some Greek politicians, which is not in line with international law and is out of reality. Despite our well-intentioned calls for dialogue, Greece is trying to give the image of a victim country, distorting all kinds of data, dressed in sheepskin to cover up its illegal and aggressive actions. It resorts to the EU, creating an artificial perception of threat and forming alliances within the alliance, while in order to solve its problems with Turkey, it tries to reduce them to Turkey-EU-US or Turkey-NATO problems. "Greece is acting against international law, common sense and historical facts in almost every issue between us," he said.

12 miles, demilitarization, island domination

The Turkish Minister of Defense categorically rejected the scenario of extending the territorial waters of Greece to 12 miles, while reiterating the issue of demilitarization of the islands and Kastelorizo, as well as the sovereignty of some islands.

"It is impossible to explain on the basis of logic and law that our neighbor wants to unilaterally extend its territorial waters to 12 miles and claim that it has 10 miles of airspace despite its 6 miles of territorial waters. "There has never been such a practice in history, neither today nor in international law."

Akar said that Greece violated the demilitarization regime on at least 16 of the 23 islands, as provided by international treaties and in particular the Lausanne Treaty.

"Furthermore, by including these islands in various exercises, NATO and third countries, these countries become a tool in their own claims. "Greece is trying to deceive them, claiming sovereignty over islands, islets and islets, whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece by any treaty and in fact is putting some of these islands up for sale," he said.

"Greece's illegal arrogance is trying to imprison Turkey"

"Greece continues its irrational and illegal claims in the eastern Mediterranean," the Turkish Defense Minister continued.

"A sea zone of 40 thousand square kilometers is required for Kastelorizo, which is only 10 square kilometers and which is 1950 meters away from Turkey and 600 kilometers from Greece. "Greece, claiming rights in areas of Turkish jurisdiction with an illegal arrogance, is trying to imprison Turkey, with about 1900 kilometers of coastline, a country with the largest coastline in the Mediterranean, in the Gulf of Antalya."

"Greece's defense of armaments is provocative"

Hulusi Akar once again expressed his annoyance over the issue of Greece's armaments, arguing once again that Greece is "expansive".

"All the illegal and irrational actions of Greece clearly reveal its expansionist perception," he said.

"The fact that Greece, which was founded in 1832 with an area of ​​47 thousand 517 square kilometers, has almost tripled in size in 7 stages, is a clear indication of this expansion. All these are actions that do not contribute to regional stability and security, on the contrary they escalate tensions and are against the spirit of neighborhood and alliance. In addition, Greece, with the encouragement and challenge of some countries, has fallen in love with armaments, which is provocative. "Some Greek academics, diplomats and the military are openly saying that this approach is a futile endeavor," he said, adding that Greece was continuing its practices of excluding and oppressing "Turks" in western Thrace.

"As Turkey, we will continue to defend the rights and freedoms of the Turks of western Thrace in the context of international law and international human rights, and to stand firmly against policies that deny their identity," he said.