Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has declared Turkey's designation of two marine parks in the Aegean and Mediterranean illegal under international and European Union law.
Addressing the Greek Parliament, Gerapetritis attributed recent regional tensions to Greece actively defending its sovereign rights. He stated that Turkey's reactions stem from Greece taking concrete initiatives on the ground for the first time, adding that Athens is not concerned if its active diplomacy causes annoyance in Ankara, and will continue to build its national strength.
Responding to a question from Plevsi Eleftherias lawmaker Alexandros Kazamias regarding airspace violations by Turkish fighter jets, Gerapetritis acknowledged that jet incursions remain a serious issue. However, he emphasized that airspace breaches have shown a clear decline compared to the thousands recorded in previous years.
He insisted that Greece must maintain open communication channels even with those with whom it fundamentally disagrees, arguing that ongoing dialogue is essential to de-escalate tensions.
Diplomatic stance and border security
Greece and Turkey have long been at odds over maritime boundaries, territorial waters, and airspace rights in the Aegean Sea. Gerapetritis highlighted that Greece's diplomatic footprint and security shielding have been significantly strengthened in recent years, citing national economic growth and a drastic reduction in irregular migration across the eastern border.
According to the minister, irregular migration flows dropped from 1.5 million in 2015 to nearly zero today. He stated that scenes from former migrant encampments at Moria on Lesbos and Idomeni on the northern border belong to the past because the current administration knows how to manage crises.
Instead of border incursions, Gerapetritis noted that Greek islands in the eastern Aegean are now seeing a steady influx of Turkish tourists, providing a vital economic boost to local communities.
Opposition criticism and government personnel
The foreign minister also pushed back against opposition criticism regarding Greece's strong strategic ties with Israel. He questioned whether critics were asking the government to abandon its international alliance with Israel simply because it displeased Turkey, describing such opposition demands as irresponsible.
Gerapetritis also rejected reports claiming that Sotiris Serbos had resigned as diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over disagreements on Greek-Turkish foreign policy, characterizing those reports as entirely unfounded.
