Turkey’s Foreign Chief Accuses Greek Counterpart of “Crying Like a Kid”

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is “crying like a kid,” during a televised interview on Turkish TV.

Using extremely undiplomatic, even rude, language, he said that Greece’s top diplomat complains about Turkey at every possible opportunity in international meetings. “These are all due to an inferiority complex,” he said, underlining Athens’ efforts to get third parties “involved in Eastern Mediterranean tensions.”

Declaring that Turkey will not allow any power move to change the balance in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cavusoglu said: “We are in favor of international law. We are in favor of fair sharing. When they try to take our rights, we do what is necessary on the field and at the table. On the right path, we will go to the end to defend our rights.”

Emphasizing Greece’s allegedly constant complaints about Turkey, Cavusoglu said: “We know that he (Dendias) calls the foreign ministers twice a day and complains about Turkey. The Greek Foreign Minister is still crying like a child. As we show that we are defending our rights because we have stopped the games against us in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Greek Foreign Minister feels the need to whine at least five times a day and constantly complain about Turkey.”

Greece makes accusations against Turkey at NATO

Referring to the statements made by Dendias on NATO relations with Turkey, the Turkish foreign policy chief said: “Who is making the accusations against Turkey? Greece, which does not contribute properly to NATO, is doing it. What does it contribute to NATO? Turkey is in the top five in terms of participation in NATO missions and activities, and in the top eight in terms of contribution to its budget. Doesn’t Greece have good relations with non-NATO countries? France initiated the search within NATO. Especially in the EU, it has made an effort to create a separate power.”

Tensions are once again rising between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus over maritime borders and drilling rights in the Eastern Mediterranean after several months of relative calm.

Earlier in October Cyprus defied threats from Turkey and sent the Greek-Cypriot research vessel Nautical Geo to conduct seismic surveys in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Turkey accused Greece and Cyprus of taking “steps that increase tensions,” threatening to intervene in any Nicosia action to drill in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In October 19, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus had warned Turkey to stop taking unilateral actions in the eastern Mediterranean during a summit of their leaders in Athens.

The three leaders rejected illegal drilling and seismic surveys by Turkish vessels atop the Cyprus EEZ/continental shelf, in regions of the sea that have already been demarcated in accordance with international law.

They also condemned the continuing violations of Greek airspace and all other illegal activities in areas within the Greek continental shelf, in violation of international law.