File photo.
Greece on Friday issued a sharp response to comments by Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, who accused Athens of pursuing “cheap politics,” with its top diplomat insisting the country will not accept instructions from Ankara.
“Greece neither has phobic syndromes nor defines itself in reference to Turkey. And we do not accept instructions from anyone,” Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said.
He added that Greece’s assertive foreign policy should be respected. “We understand the tension that may be caused by Greece’s strong and active foreign policy. Let everyone become familiar with this reality and not turn embarrassment into hostility,” he said, noting that good-neighborly relations “are not promoted by intemperate and untimely statements.”
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis echoed the message, telling Open TV that Greece was a sovereign state guided by international law in its decisions. “It seeks dialogue with everyone, but it will never accept instructions, nor will it ever put sovereignty issues on the scale,” he said.
The remarks followed Fidan’s warning on Thursday that Greek politicians risk triggering a crisis with “geostrategic costs” if they continue what he called anti-Turkish rhetoric for domestic political gain.
