A foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday stressed that Turkey must withdraw a threat to initiate hostilities against Greece in the event that Athens decides to legally extend the country's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles.
Pointing out that Greece had a sovereign right to extend its territorial waters under both maritime and European law, spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said the mere existence of Turkey's 'casus belli' was unacceptable.
"It is inconceivable that there is a threat of war by a candidate state against a member-state of the EU, given also the framework in which international relations develop in our times. It is up to Turkey to abolish it," the spokesman underlined when asked about recent statements made on the issue by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Delavekouras repeated Greece's support for Turkey's rapprochement with the EU and said that Athens will continue efforts to improve bilateral relations "with very careful steps and without compromising sovereign rights".
SOURCE: ANA (Athens News Agency)