The recent statements by Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis to SKAI provoked a strong reaction from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Deputy Foreign Minister appeared confident that the Greek-Turkish dialogue would continue despite the ongoing provocations by Turkey.
Varvitsiotis said "Mr. Erdoğan did not manage to raise his popularity through his nationalist turn."
"The economic crisis is leading him to hasty and spasmodic actions, as well as internal affairs related to the 'witch hunt' that is taking place in Turkey against dissidents," the Deputy Foreign Minister added.
The statements by Varvitsiotis provoked a reaction from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which in an announcement accused the Greek Minister of undermining the ongoing bilateral talks.
"We strongly condemn the immoral statements of the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Miltiadis Varvitsiodis, during a television interview about our country and our President," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
"These statements are not compatible with political and diplomatic customs," the statement added.
"We think it is intentional that the Greek authorities are persistently continuing their provocative and escalating statements and actions against our country and putting the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Varvitsiodis forward for that purpose, in a time when we are taking new steps in order to sustain the dialogue between our countries, which was revived thanks to Turkey’s efforts," the Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed.
"We invite the Greek political leadership to act responsibly, with prudence and sincerity in their statements regarding Turkey so that the dialogue channels between the two countries function again," they concluded.
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