Outrage from Greece over map questioning Greece’s sovereignty on Aegean islands
Greek diplomatic sources on Sunday strongly criticized a social media post showcasing the leader of Turkey’s small coalition partner next to a fictive map depicting many Greek islands as Turkish, Ekathimerini said.
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) posed in a photo published on Twitter by the ultranationalist Gray Wolves, contemplating a fictive map of the Aegean Sea in which many of the Greek islands were annexed to Turkey.
Crete, the biggest Greek island home to 600 thousand inhabitants, was one of the annexed.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on Turkey's President Erdogan to make his position clear about the issue.
Take a good look at this map. Crete, Rhodes, Lesvos, Chios, Samos all consumed by Turkey. Α fever dream of extremists or Turkey’s official policy? Another provocation or the true goal?
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 11, 2022
President Erdogan must make his position clear on his junior coalition partner's latest antics. pic.twitter.com/hX4sSZ924j
Depicting Greek territory as Turkish is an especially aggressive and provocative action, and Greece expects the immediate and public condemnation of this unacceptable action, diplomatic sources said, according to Ekathimerini.
Turkey and Greece have been at odds on several issues such as maritime boundaries, their respective continental shelves, as well as airspace, migrants and ethnically split Cyprus.
Tensions flared up recently after Turkey accused Greece of arming the islands in the Aegean Sea which it says should have a demilitarized status under international treaties.
Greece has said Turkey's remarks are "unfounded" and has accused Ankara of questioning its sovereignty over them.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly said Turkey would start questioning Greek sovereignty over the islands if Athens persisted in arming them.
