Revisionism in the 'DNA' of all Turkish parties: Greek PM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 May 2023 23:32

The Greek premier said he is ready to extend a "hand of friendship" to whoever emerges as victor from Turkey's May 14 elections.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Greek President's office, Athens, Greece, April, 2023. (AFP)

During a televised debate among political leaders, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday ahead of May 21 national elections that revisionism is "deeply" ingrained in the "DNA of all Turkish parties."

The outgoing PM noted that during his four-year term, he had faced an "exceptionally aggressive" Turkey and that Turkey's "Blue Homeland" foreign policy sets forth illegal claims of ownership over maritime zones from neighbouring Mediterranean countries.

Last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly accused Greece of "occupying" Aegean islands whose status was settled in post-war treaties.

Erdogan warned Greece that Turkey's armed forces could "come overnight" and "do what is necessary".

The Greek premier said he is ready to extend a "hand of friendship" to whoever emerges as victor from Turkey's May 14 elections.

He further emphasized the necessity of building strong alliances with other NATO allies, including the US and France.

In several instances since 2020, Ankara and Athens have been head-to-head and faced the risk of armed conflict over territorial claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Greek-Turkish divide in Cyprus, and the delimitation of maritime borders.

However, the neighboring nations have a history of assisting each other during times of crisis.

On February 12, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, Greece's Foreign Minister landed in Adana to convey Athen's support to the quake-struck country.

Greece's top diplomat Nikos Dendias was warmly greeted by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the airport before they both took the helicopter to visit the affected regions in the country.

"I would like to convey to the Turkish leadership and the Turkish people the warmest condolences of the [Prime Minster Kyriakos] Mitsotakis government and the entire Greek people for the losses after the two devastating earthquakes," Dendias said in a press conference with Cavusoglu in Antakya.

"This is showing the solidarity of Greek people with Turkey and the Turkish population. Greece was one of the first countries to call and propose help to Turkey after the earthquake," Cavusoglu added.