Social media blows up as Dendias calls Turkey's "occupation" of Greek land as "right-wing fake news"

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Athens took diplomatic steps towards Turkey by sending a protest note following an order from Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on the issue that has arisen in a part of southern Evros, where Turkish forces are said to be occupying sovereign Greek land - that was the message yesterday by Kathimerini.

Also yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that the issue with Turkey is over just "a few metres" of land.

However, today Dendias has taken a completely different perspective with a contradictory message, saying that reports of Turkey occupying Greek land at Evros is "fake news."

He took it one step further by saying the news about Turkey occupying land at Evros is the fake news of “extreme right-wing sites.” A bizarre claim considering that Greece’s biggest newspapers like Kathemerini and Ethnos, as well as British mainstream newspapers, have all reported the news.

The announcement that Turkey's occupation of Greek land is "fake news" has caused Twitter to blow up against Dendias and the Foreign Ministry as people were first told that messages had been sent to Turkey about the occupation of Greek land, but now, it is "right-wing fake news."

Twitter user Giorgos Sahinis said "In other words, the Foreign Minister denies Kathimerini after 3 days, but further clarifies in his radio interview that he was referring to a potential and not accomplished attitude of Turkey and otherwise it is sad for everyone else and not for the 'own goal'?"

Dennis Kassavetis said: "Kathimerini said the step was taken at the behest of Dendias. Today they say it's fake news. Who knows.."

Makis said "Dear Minister, the citizen is not obliged to know who is spreading FAKE NEWS. We read it in the daily. You took a step. What should the citizens assume?"

Antonios Tzanakopoulos said "Mr. Minister, was Kathimerini's post fair three days ago? Why did the move happen in the end? Why did 'data' make 'measurements'? On what ground? Did they leave afterwards? Never?"

https://twitter.com/ATzanakopoulos/status/1264143032514945024

Merenta said "You made a mistake, Minister! Your statements are indulgently unacceptable! Admit it!"

Panos Roussos said "With all due respect, but you can't just make a two-sentence announcement and baptise so many articles (including Kathimerini) as fake news. You must provide evidence and detailed explanations. It's your job."

Elias Palaiologos said "I don't know if Evros was violated. What I do know is that a favoured state has lost its compass in a storm of Turkish intentions on the one hand and fake news on the other. Therefore, if we did not lose ground, we lost credibility."

https://twitter.com/i/status/1264150800508600331

Penny Smirlis said in response to Palaiologos "He cannot accuse citizens because they believed in fake news. He himself admitted and took a step! The same communication change was made with Oruc Reis. In both cases, the government tried to silence the truth."

And these are just a few of the many reactions to Dendias' and the Foreign Ministry's claim that it is "fake news."

Dendias from his own account made two sentences saying "It is a shame that someone adopts fake news and claims that the territory of their country has been occupied by a foreign power. The ridiculousness goes hand in hand with irresponsibility."

However, in no statement by Dendias, his website or the Foreign Ministry do they explain the contradictions about why a message was sent to Turkey when reports first emerged that Turkish soldiers entered territory at Evros, nor why the discussion is about "just a few meters," and why now all of a sudden it is called "fake news."

Social media users have made it very clear that they want clarification and answers for these contradictions.