Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt expressed his outrage and concern of Turkey’s recent attempt to dispute the Lausanne Treaty questioning the sovereignty of Greek islands.
Verhofstadt was speaking at an Economist conference in Nicosia, Cyprus calling the recent remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “outrageous,” and that “it was dangerous and provocative to dispute a treaty adopted 100 years ago.”
He went on to express his support for the efforts of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades to find a solution for the Cyprus problem and noted that the negotiations were taking place at a time when Erdogan was laying claim to one Greek island after another and starting to dispute the Lausanne Treaty, with which Turkey had relinquished all claims on Cyprus.
This comes at a time where Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik announced he has placed an order for a further 24 Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft. Turkey is expected to receive the stealth fighters in 2018.
The announcement has caused unease in Greece in the wake of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s questioning of Greek island sovereignty.
