Greek PM: Will always try to keep communication open with Turkey

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Amid tensions between Turkey and Greece over maritime borders and energy exploration rights in disputed parts of the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said today, Sunday, he was always open to meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

While recent Greek defense agreements with France and the United States have angered Ankara, Greece also accuses Turkey of flying over Greek islands.

However, Mitsotakis said on Sunday at a press conference as part of the Thessaloniki International Fair that he remained open to a meeting with the Turkish President but that he could not impose one.      

"I consider recent statements by the Turkish president unacceptable. However, we will always try to keep communication channels open," he said, adding that an informal EU summit that will be taking take place in early October in Prague might be an opportunity for this to happen.

A couple of weeks ago, Greek government spokesperson Ioannis Oikonomou said on Monday that Turkey has been distorting reality and spreading false facts when accusing Greece of targeting its military aviation.

Erdogan has several times accused Greece of "occupying" Aegean islands whose status was settled in post-war treaties.

Read: Turkey will not relinquish its rights in Aegean Sea: Erdogan

When Mitsotakis was asked if he thinks Turkey will provoke a military conflict in the Aegean, he answered that he could not "even imagine a military confrontation," but warned that in such a case, Greece's armed forces would give a "decisive answer".      

Greece formally complained to the EU, NATO, and the UN this week after Erdogan warned in a speech: "We have one thing to say to Greece: Remember Izmir," calling his statements "inflammatory."

Erdogan was referring to the 1922 fall of the western city of Izmir in Turkey.