Greece says Turkey needs to “play by the rules”

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said they are ready to engage with Turkey, but Ankara needs to “play by the rules.”

"Turkey should not be playing by its own rules, especially rules like the rule of military might and unilateral actions," Panagiotopoulos said in Athens, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The two neighboring countries are at odds over a string of disputed issues, including territory, airspace, hydrocarbon exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, the flow of migrants, and Cyprus. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month announced that Ankara has halted the bilateral talks, after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on the US Congress to reject the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. Mitsotakis "no longer exists" for him, Erdogan said and will not meet him until the Greek premier “pulls himself together.”

However, Mitsotakis said the channels of communication need to remain open between Athens and Ankara.