ATHENS – The Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry responded strongly to statements by the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who claimed that the trilateral cooperation of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus might even lead to war.
In an explicit message, the Greek ministry underlined that Greece is formulating its foreign policy independently and does not accept directives or owe any explanations, also conveying that ‘fear-mongering’ is not based on reality, and the trilateral relationship’s purpose is peaceful and not directed against third parties, it underlined.
“As a member-state of the European Union and NATO and an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, Greece has proven that it consistently works for stability, good neighborly relations, and peace,” the Foreign Ministry noted. It added: “Both the bilateral Greece-Israel cooperation as well as the trilateral one of Greece, the Cyprus Republic, and Israel, as well as any other trilateral co-operations of Greece, have a peaceful purpose and are not directed against third parties.”
The Foreign Ministry further noted, “Greece formulates its foreign policy independently, neither accepting directives, nor owing anyone explanations.” It concluded by saying, “Fear-mongering and attempts to distort reality are not helpful, especially during this period of regional instability and uncertainty.”