In an interview with Sunday newspaper Real News, the Greek government’s Vice President and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos expressed his confidence that Greece is ready to prevent a possible incident with Turkey if things get out of hand. “We are ready to prevent the possibility of an incident with Turkey. We are implementing actions to prevent an escalation, because a military escalation has never helped the region or Greece,” Mr. Venizelos underlined. In addition, the Greek government Vice President, declared that it is one thing to say that the country has a strong defense that it will make use of if needed, and it is quite another thing to enter into a crisis, “that has no prospects, has no strategic framework and often hurt a country and eventually become permanent and freeze.” He stated. On Wednesday, Mr. Venizelos warned the Turkish government that the Greek side is ready to take legal actions if necessary to protect Cyprus’ sovereign rights. “Our reaction is, so far, strong political, but it can also acquire legal characteristics. Greece in all tones, has explained that neither the tripartite agreement between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt nor that between Greece, Cyprus and Israel are of an aggressive nature and do not turn against any of the neighboring countries,” he said, defending at the same time Cypriot President Anastasiades’ decision to withdraw from the inter-communal talks under the United Nations for a solution to the Cyprus problem until Ankara ceases the provocations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The European Parliament has passed on a joint resolution, condemning Ankara’s violations in Cyprus’ EEZ, which the Turkish Cypriot side characterized as “unacceptable” and “one-sided.” Tension is high in the southeast Mediterranean, since last month, when Turkey sent seismic vessel “Barbaros” to Cyprus’ EEZ Block 3 in order to conduct hydrocarbon research, while dogfight incidents over the Aegean sea between Turkish and Greek fighter jets have increased.
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