Türkiye: Greek govt trying to sabotage Athens-Ankara talks

Greece tries to prevent and sabotage consultation and confidence-building measures talks with Ankara, Türkiye defence chief has said.

"Not only Greece does not want to hold these talks, but it also tries to prevent them from happening and sabotages them," Hulusi Akar said on Monday during a visit to TCG Anadolu, which will be Türkiye's largest warship.

Akar noted that the consultation meetings as well as the confidence-building measures and NATO's "decomposition methods" meetings were halted by the Greek side.

Ankara and Athens set up a technical mechanism in 2020 with NATO's participation, called "decomposition methods" to prevent possible incidents in the Eastern Mediterranean's sea and airspace.

Some Greek politicians and defence officials are aiming to "cover-up" local issues by constantly and consciously increasing tensions with Türkiye, Akar noted, saying Ankara is being "cautious" as much as possible.

He stressed that Athens attempts to present the problems between Greece and Türkiye as "issues related to NATO, the US, and the EU."

"Everyone is now aware of their (Greece's) tricks. We consider and expect everyone to be more cautious in this regard," he added.

READ MORE: Greece continues its provocative actions in region: Turkish defence chief

Greek govt grappling with scandals

Turkish defence minister underlined that Türkiye's all claims are based on legal facts and concrete data.

"Despite this, there are many Greece-related reasons for not getting any results. There are many scandals in Greece right now. There is the wiretapping scandal, migration scandal, and corruption."

He said the Greek public "noticed" its government's failures in the Eastern Mediterranean, so Athens "hopes to cover all of it by increasing tensions" with Ankara.

"We want them (the Greek government) to see that it is not possible for them to survive by creating tension, and that diversion is not profitable," he added.

The Turkish defence chief further refuted claims that Türkiye is a threat, stressing "Türkiye is not a threat to anyone, rather, is a reliable, strong, and effective ally."

Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarised under treaty obligations. 

Ankara says that such moves frustrate its good-faith efforts for peace.

READ MORE: Erdogan warns Greece against provocations in Aegean Sea