Greek PM Mitsotakis Urges Erdogan to Respond to Provocative Map

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to respond to a map next to which his ally, Devlet Bahçeli, posed. The map depicted Greek islands and Crete as Turkish territory.

The far-right nationalist Turkish politician Bahçeli took a picture posing next to the map showing that a large part of Greece belongs to Turkey at a meeting of the Grey Wolves on Saturday.

The Grey Wolves is a nationalist, Islamist, and fascist group considered a terrorist organization across much of the world, and Bahçeli is one of its founders. Throughout the 1970s, the Grey Wolves conducted guerilla attacks against minorities, artists, and leftists in Turkey.

Turkish map includes Greek islands as part of Turkey

“Take a good look at this map. Crete, Rhodes, Lesvos, Chios, Samos all consumed by Turkey…,” Mitsotakis said on Twitter on Monday.

Mitsotakis wrote: “Α fever dream of extremists or Turkey’s official policy? Another provocation or the true goal? President Erdogan must make his position clear on his junior coalition partner’s latest antics.”

Take a good look at this map. Crete, Rhodes, Lesvos, Chios, Samos all consumed by Turkey. Α fever dream of extremists or Turkey’s official policy? Another provocation or the true goal?
President Erdogan must make his position clear on his junior coalition partner's latest antics. pic.twitter.com/hX4sSZ924j

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 11, 2022

When the picture including the provocative map was posted on Saturday, diplomatic sources from Greece claimed, in speaking to Kathimerini, that the act was “aggressive and provocative.”

“Unfortunately, it represents part of the escalation of the extreme rhetoric from Turkey that we witness on a daily basis,” the sources expressed.

“We expect the immediate, categorical, and public rejection of this unacceptable act, which doubts the sovereignty of our country,” the sources said to Kathimerini.

Turkey escalates tension with Greece demanding demilitarization of islands

In June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to demilitarize its islands in the Aegean, saying he was “not joking.” He spoke during Turkish military exercises near the islands, including an amphibious landing scenario.

“I warn Greece to avoid dreams, acts and statements that will result in regret….[and to] come to your senses,” he said.

“Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean and will not back down from using rights that are established by international agreements when it comes to arming islands,” he said.

Greece is acting as if it is making touristic landings on Aegean islands, he said and added in addressing Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that “You can’t get anywhere with this.”