Media sources claim the U.S is stepping in to help ease tensions between Greece and Turkey. Washington is said to have activated a channel of communication with Ankara in a bid to reduce the recent increase in tensions with Greece in the Aegean.
According to media sources, the U.S has asked Ankara to tone down its aggressive stance in the Aegean. It is not known how Ankara has responded to the American initiative, but it is said that Washington now fears a possible incident in the Aegean between the two NATO allies, which could destabilise the alliance’s southeast wing.
Tensions have peaked as the leader of the ultra-right MHP party Devlet Bahceli spoke of Greek islands that remained “under occupation.”
Bahceli is an ally of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and supports the bid by the Turkish president to expand his executive powers in the referendum that will take place in Turkey on April 16.
Citing what he described as international law, Bahceli called for the “unconditional end to the occupation of the islands,” referring to a string of islands and islets in the eastern Aegean.
He also went on to refer to the Greek-Turkish war in 1922.
“If Greece want to fall back into the sea and if they are up to it, they are welcome to do it. The Turkish army is ready,” he said.
The MHP leader also said the divided island of Cyprus is Turkish. Since the recent escalation of tension between Greece and Turkey, progress in the UN-backed peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots has stalled.
Bahceli also stated that Greek Cypriots should immigrate to Greece if they still want union with Greece, telling MPs of his own political party that peace talks with Cyprus have reached a dead end.
“The Greek Cypriot parliament took a decision about enosis, the Greek Cypriot leader got up, slammed the door, and left,” the head of the MHP said.
Bahceli also said that enosis, which essentially means union of Cyprus with Greece, is a fairy-tale and hate, adding that Cyprus will not be abandoned.
