Mitsotakis says Greek islands’ sovereignty not disputed

The sovereignty of the Greek islands is no matter of discussion, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said amid tensions with Turkey.

Accusing Ankara of being “pugnacious” and “aggressive,” Mitsotakis said “No Greek prime minister will ever discuss the sovereignty of our islands,” Kathimerini reported on Thursday.

Turkey and Greece, both NATO allies, have long been at odds over a string of issues, including territorial claims over the Mediterranean and the Aegean. The tensions between Ankara and Athens have build up lately over the status of the Aegean islands, where Turkey blames Greece for “illegally” militarizing them in violation of international treaties. Turkey says the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris require Greece’s eastern Aegean islands to remain demilitarized. In response to Turkish claims, Greece says the restrictions no longer apply.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September said “Greece occupies the islands” and when the time comes, Turkey will do what is necessary.

“As we say, all of a sudden, we can come overnight,” Erdogan said.