Pavlopoulos warns Turkey, urges it to live in peace with Greece

Duvar English

Greek President Pavlopoulos has called on Turkey to live in peace with Greece, while expressing New Year's wishes. He also warned Ankara over recent rising tensions regarding the disputed territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea.

“No one should expect Greece to yield even an iota of the rights it has under international and European law,” Pavlopoulos was quoted as saying by Greek media. “Greece is ready to face any threat against our homeland – Greece will face them prepared and united,” he said in a strongly-worded message to Turkey.

The Greek president made the remarks during a ceremony on Jan. 1 at the Presidential Guard Barracks in a New Year's tradition, where he cut the New Year cake (Vassilopita). 

In his New Year's message, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also similarly sent a message to Turkey over escalating tensions in the Mediterranean Sea.

"Geopolitical challenges do not intimidate us. The right is on our side. We have strong allies. We have the deterrent capability to fend off any claims to our sovereign rights,” Mitsotakis said in his message, in a clear reference to Turkey's energy exploration activities in the Mediterranean Sea and its maritime boundaries deal with Libya.

The deal that Turkey signed with Libya’s U.N.-recognized government on Nov. 27, 2019 has ramped up tensions with Greece, with various media outlets saying that the Greek government has been preparing for the worst regarding the country’s relations with Ankara. 

The Greek government perceives the agreement as a Turkish move to maximize its economic and strategic influence in the Mediterranean Sea. The new maritime boundary transects an area claimed by Greece. It runs close to the Greek island of Crete and could jeopardize plans for a gas pipeline to deliver eastern Mediterranean gas to Europe.