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Turkey has reacted strongly to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis\u2019 recent visit to Kastellorizo, once again raising Ankara\u2019s claims over the military status of the southeastern Aegean island.<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s Defence Ministry on Thursday criticised Greece over the presence of military personnel and naval vessels on Kastellorizo, following Mitsotakis\u2019 visit to the island and nearby military outposts.<\/p>\n
Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, spokesman for Turkey\u2019s Defence Ministry, said Ankara was closely monitoring developments and repeated Turkey\u2019s position that Greece\u2019s military presence on Kastellorizo violates the island\u2019s demilitarised status under the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stationing of military elements and warships on the island, and the public display of these elements as part of high-level visits, is not compatible with the island\u2019s status and does not contribute to peace and stability,\u201d Turkish media quoted Akturk as saying.<\/p>\n
He also warned that Turkey would not accept what Ankara described as the disregard of rights and obligations arising from international treaties or attempts to create a \u201cde facto situation\u201d on the ground.<\/p>\n
The latest comments came one day after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made similar accusations, describing Greece\u2019s military presence on islands that Ankara considers demilitarised as a security threat to Turkey.<\/p>\n
Athens has rejected those claims, arguing that they have no basis in international law and stressing Greece\u2019s right to defend its sovereign territory.<\/p>\n
The dispute centres on competing interpretations of the international treaties governing the status of Greek islands in the Aegean.<\/p>\n
Mitsotakis visited Kastellorizo over the weekend to attend events marking the 83rd anniversary of the island\u2019s liberation. During his visit, he also travelled to the nearby islets of Ro and Strongyli, where he visited Greek military outposts.<\/p>\n
The visit came amid renewed Turkish rhetoric over the Aegean and the military status of Greek islands, adding another point of tension to the already sensitive Greek Turkish relationship.<\/p>\n