Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis says Athens has formally warned Turkey over Ankara’s plans for marine environmental parks, stressing that Greece remains on constant alert and is prepared to take further diplomatic action.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday in response to a question from Freedom Sailing parliamentary representative Alexandros Kazamias, Gerapetritis revealed that Greece has delivered a formal verbal diplomatic notice to Ankara.
According to the Foreign Minister, the Greek notification sets out in detail Athens’ objections to the institutionalisation of two proposed Turkish marine parks. Greece argues that the plans conflict with international law and cannot produce legal effects.
Athens has also informed the relevant European authorities about the issue, Gerapetritis said.
“From the very beginning, the European authorities have been informed,” he said, stressing that European institutions are aware of Greece’s concerns over what Athens regards as a further escalation of tensions by Turkey.
“We do not just monitor, we act”
Gerapetritis rejected criticism that the government is underestimating the seriousness of Turkey’s actions, insisting that Athens is closely monitoring developments while actively implementing its diplomatic strategy.
“We do not monitor, we act,” he said.
The Foreign Minister suggested that Turkey’s reactions are partly linked to what he described as Greece’s increasingly active efforts to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights.
He also dismissed suggestions that Athens was caught off guard by Turkey’s latest moves concerning maritime areas.
Gerapetritis said the coordinates included in Turkey’s marine environmental park plans fall outside Greek territorial waters but overlap with areas that Greece considers part of its continental shelf.
For Athens, he stressed, this raises important questions under international law.
Athens insists dialogue with Ankara must continue
Despite the ongoing disagreements between Greece and Turkey, Gerapetritis defended the need to maintain open communication channels with Ankara.
“Even with those with whom we fundamentally disagree legally, there should be communication,” he said, arguing that dialogue is essential to reducing tensions and preventing disputes from developing into broader crises.
He rejected the suggestion that maintaining dialogue means Turkey must abandon positions it has held for decades.
Instead, Gerapetritis said Greece’s strategy is focused on defending the country’s interests while avoiding unnecessary escalation.
“We will continue to increase the power of Greece,” he stressed.
Gerapetritis defends Greece’s ties with Israel
The parliamentary exchange also addressed Greece’s relationship with Israel.
Responding to criticism from Kazamias over the government’s international alliances, Gerapetritis strongly defended Athens’ relationship with Israel and questioned whether Greece should change its foreign policy in response to Turkish objections.
He described such an approach as irresponsible.
The debate also touched on the recent resignation of Prime Minister’s adviser Sotiris Serbos. Kazamias suggested that the resignation was connected to disagreements over the government’s foreign policy.
Gerapetritis rejected the allegation, accusing the opposition MP of making unsubstantiated claims in Parliament.
The confrontation comes as Greek Turkish tensions remain elevated over maritime zones, sovereignty and competing claims and positions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
