Row over militarization of Greek islands peaks with Turkish warning
Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms.
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s feud with neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece resurfaced Tuesday as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened to “do whatever is necessary” unless Athens reverses the militarization of its islands off the Turkish coastline.
“Greece needs to give up on this,” Cavusoglu told a joint news conference in Ankara with his Romanian counterpart. “Either they take a step back and abide by the agreements or we do whatever is necessary."
He went on, “It’s not possible for us to remain silent and insensitive to the threats against us. Greece should not forget this: He who sows the wind reaps the storm. If you don’t want peace, we will do what’s necessary.”
Cavusoglu’s remarks come after months of threats and counterthreats over the status of islands in the Aegean Sea, granted to Greece during the 20th century. Many of the islands lie within sight of Turkey’s western coast.
