As a guarantor country, Turkey will also protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, while recalling the decision of the Turkish National Assembly on casus belli in case Greece expands its territorial waters from 6 to 12 navies. miles in the Aegean.
The Turkish Minister accused Greece of continuing the heavy equipment with the supply of expensive weapons and equipment and wondered against whom Greece is equipped.
In a press conference later this year, the Turkish Defense Minister said that Turkey had urged Greece not to move "by miscalculation" by increasing its territorial waters from 6 to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean, while reiterating the call of the Turkish Government. to the neighboring country to resolve all disputes through peaceful dialogue.
"I hope they do not make a mistake and think of extending the territorial waters to 12 miles. "This is a miscalculation," said Hulusi Akar, adding that Turkey and Greece have a number of outstanding issues stemming from the Aegean, including the latter's claim that it has the right to extend its territorial waters from existing ones. at 6 miles, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Turkish National Assembly stated in 12 that a unilateral action by Greece on territorial waters would be casus beli, which means war. "Turkey is not part of UNCLOS."
"They should not try to test us," said Hulusi Akar, adding that Greece should better be content with its existing 6 miles of territorial waters. The Turkish Minister stated that if Greece imposes 12 mile territorial waters in the Aegean, Turkey will have no place to sail in international waters without the consent of the Greek Government. "What kind of logic is this?" "This is unfair and against the law," said Hulusi Akar. Asked about the Greek appeals to Turkey to withdraw the decision of the Turkish National Assembly on casus beli, Hulusi Akar said that "it is a matter of national security".
The Turkish minister complained that despite the fact that Greece has expanded its territories more than four times since its inception, he continues to accuse Turkey of expansionist policies. "There is a status quo in the Aegean. You have 6 miles of territorial waters, be thankful for that. "What we are saying is that both sides should benefit from wealth and live peacefully."
The Turkish Minister claimed that some Greek politicians and officials continue their aggressive and provocative actions and rhetoric against Turkey. "They are trying to present us as a threat, while they are the ones who are equipping the demilitarized islands," said Hulusi Akar.
He said that despite the Greek provocative moves, Turkey is still seeking to resolve the issues through dialogue and reiterated Ankara 's call for a fourth round of talks between the two Ministries of Defense in the Turkish capital. "The Greek minister said that they are evaluating our call and we are waiting for them," said Hulusi Akar. alteration of the allied principle of collective defense.
"We are allies with Greece in NATO. Nevertheless, they make deals. An alliance within an alliance… This only weakens NATO. "Why are you doing all this while NATO exists?" He asked.
Hulusi Akar said that Greece continues to equip itself with the supply of expensive weapons and equipment and wondered "against whom is this". He said that Turkey maintains its good intentions to resolve the problems with Greece, but should not be considered a sign of weakness, while he promised that Turkey will not abandon its commitment to protect its rights and interests in the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea.
"Similarly, as a guarantor country, Turkey will also protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots," he said. "Turkey is an effective, strong and reliable ally for its friends," he said.
Source: KYPE