Greece has issued a direct response to remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concerning cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country does not accept “advice or explanations from anyone,” rejecting claims that such partnerships contribute to instability in the region. The statement was released on Monday.
Response to remarks by Hakan Fidan
The reaction followed comments by Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, who argued that cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel “creates more problems and war.”
In its announcement, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “alarmist rhetoric and attempts to distort reality are not helpful.”
It added that Greece conducts its foreign policy independently and does not accept instructions from other countries.
Position of the Greek foreign ministry
The ministry emphasised that Greece, as a member state of the European Union and NATO, as well as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, has consistently worked towards stability and peaceful relations.
According to the statement, Greece has demonstrated over time that it acts in support of regional stability, good neighbourly relations and peace.
Cooperation with Israel and regional partnerships
The announcement also clarified that Greece’s cooperation frameworks are not directed against any third country.
It noted that both the bilateral cooperation between Greece and Israel and the trilateral partnership involving Greece, the Republic of Cyprus and Israel have peaceful objectives.
The ministry added that Greece participates in several similar trilateral cooperation formats, all of which pursue cooperation and stability rather than confrontation.
The statement concluded that attempts to distort reality are particularly unhelpful “during this period of regional instability and uncertainty.”