Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on Tuesday, July 21, with the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in Athens.

During their meeting, Mitsotakis and Maas discussed the Turkish illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean with the Greek Premier stressing that in case Turkey continues its illegal actions, EU sanctions will the only option.

Greek Prime Minister referred to the Turkish NAVTEX near Kastelorizo, stressing that Greece is closely monitoring developments with confidence and in a state of readiness.

“Challenging Greece’s and Cyprus’ sovereign rights by Turkey represents a challenge of the sovereign rights of Europe. If Turkey continues in this direction, the implementation of sanctions by EU will be the only option,” Mitsotakis said.

“We are counting on our allies’ support”, Mitsotakis said, adding that it is up to Turkey to choose the kind of relationship it will have with Greece, Cyprus, and Europe. “I believe that right now Turkey is following the wrong path”, Mitsotakis concluded.

On his part, German Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the decisions of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers reflect clearly the EU solidarity towards Greece and Cyprus.

He also assured that in the framework of the German EU Presidency it has been made clear to Turkey that it must end its provocative stance against Greece, in order to be integrated into a dialogue. “Otherwise, this perspective is impossible”, Minister Maas stressed.

Germany will firmly follow this approach both on a bilateral and on the European level, German Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded.