Ankara has called on countries supporting Greece’s actions in the Aegean Sea to “adopt common sense,” the National Security Council (MGK) meeting statement said Wednesday.

The statement, released after a four-hour meeting chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the meeting focused on a range of issues, including the standoff with Greece, counterterrorism efforts, Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions and more.

“The circles encouraging Greece to deploy arms on islands with demilitarized status have been urged to adopt common sense,” the statement said.

The meeting also called on the U.S. to reverse its decision regarding lifting the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration, which it said: “Contradicts the spirit of the (NATO) alliance.”

Earlier this month, the U.S. lifted defense trade restrictions on the Greek Cypriot administration for the 2023 fiscal year.

Greek Foreign Ministry: We will defend our legal interests and rights

Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a response to a statement by Turkey’s National Security Council, made earlier Wednesday.

“Turkey has every right to defend its interests by all legal means, subject to the basic condition that it accepts the rules of International Law.

However, it has no right to flagrantly violate International Law and threaten Greece with war (casus belli).

Greece makes no claim against Turkey.

It is in favour of dialogue on the basis of International Law.

It will, however, defend its legal interests and rights should the need arise.”

SOURCE: ekathimerini.com