“Ίσες αποστάσεις” κρατούν οι ΗΠΑ απέναντι στην Τουρκική προκλητικότητα

QUESTION: The threats against Greece by the Turks, it’s an everyday thing, as you know. Today the foreign minister of Turkey referred to the Greek island of Imia as Turkish soil. And as you know, Imia belonged to Greece. What is your reaction? And please tell me if you are planning to raise this issue to the Turkish Government.

MR TONER: Well, first of all, my reaction is going to sound very similar to what my reaction was the other day. And that’s not to be glib about your question, but the U.S. is firmly supportive – firmly supports, rather, the sovereignty of both Greece and Turkey. And I – as to these comments, I’ll have to again refer you to the Government of Turkey to explain where they’re coming from. Turkey and Greece, as you well know, have long-established diplomatic channels for addressing Aegean issues. And we encourage Turkey and Greece, as NATO allies, to work together to maintain good relations and good neighborly relations and to foster peace and security in the Aegean. It’s obviously in the interest of the entire region for that to happen.

Your last question was?

QUESTION: Yeah, Mark, I mean, don’t you think it’s time for you to ask —

MR TONER: Well, you asked whether we had raised this with the – yeah.

QUESTION: Mr. Erdogan to stop threatening Greece? I mean, you have to take a position in it.

MR TONER: So, well, I just did. But with respect to whether we have raised this directly with President Erdogan, I cannot confirm that or whether we’ve raised it with any of our counterparts in Turkey. I can try to get an answer for you on that.