Greece’s newly appointed National Defence Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that the government is closely monitoring Turkey’s illegal drilling in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Panagiotopoulos made the comments in parliament on Monday and added that despite the provocations Greece will nevertheless keep communications open.
"The Defense Ministry is following closely Turkey's attitude of transgressions, and it concerns us seriously, as it does the EU and other countries," Panagiotopoulos said.
"We would prefer a different stance by Turkey. We shall seek to maintain a line of communication in the framework of the Confidence-Building Measures. We hope for and expect actual proof from Turkey. We are committed, on our side, to keeping a communication line. This is not to say we yield or submit" to this attitude, he noted.
"We shall see if in the future this line of communication will remain open or we will shut it down. It is in the interests of both countries to keep it open," he continued.
