In a clear intervention, the State Department is taking a stand on the recent barrage of bellicose statements unleashed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against Greece and on the issue of disputing the sovereignty of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Responding to a joint question from correspondents of APPE-MPA, ERT and the Hellas Journal website, the US State Department spokesman noted that «at a time when Russia has again invaded a sovereign European state, statements that could increase tensions between NATO allies are not particularly useful.».
He went on to reiterate the long-standing US position that the US should encourage its NATO allies to work together to maintain peace and security in the region and to resolve disputes through diplomacy.
On the issue of challenging the sovereignty of the Greek islands in the Aegean, the State Department spokesman was equally clear. As he stressed, «the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected and protected. Greece's sovereignty over these islands is not in question. We call on all parties to avoid rhetoric and actions that could further increase tension.».
