Ankara warned Athens on Monday against embarking on an adventure on behalf of others, emphasising Greece’s ongoing provocations.
“As we try to respect our neighbourly rights on both sides of the Aegean, Greece continues its provocations; if you embark on an adventure on behalf of others, you will suffer the consequences today, as you have in the past; this is a warning to our neighbour Greece,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a symposium commemorating the Battle of Sakarya.
The Battle of Sakarya took place near the Turkish capital of Ankara, on the banks of the Sakarya River. Polatli, the battleground, is only 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Ankara.
Following the battle, Ataturk was awarded the rank of field marshal of the army, as well as the title of Gazi (Veteran) by the parliament for his efforts and victory on the battlefield.
The Turkish foreign minister urged Greece not to be a “tool” for others and to stop provocations.
Türkiye, a NATO member for more than 70 years, has complained about Greece’s repeated provocative actions and rhetoric in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarised under a treaty, saying such moves frustrate its good faith peace efforts.
Cavusoglu described Turkish diplomacy as “entrepreneurial and humanitarian,” adding that his country defends its rights and interests on all platforms.
The minister stated that Turkey is always on the lookout for “evil eyes and malicious plans,” and that the country’s security is in “safe hands” thanks to its “heroic army, defence industry, and satellites sent into space.”
“We have projects that will contribute to peace and prosperity not only in our region, but also globally,” he continued.
“Türkiye comes to mind when seeking solutions to crises from the Balkans to the Middle East, from the Caucasus to Central Asia, and from Africa to Latin America,” Cavusoglu said of Turkey’s role as a mediator.
The top diplomat reiterated that Turkey’s efforts, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, resulted in the export of Ukrainian grain to the rest of the world. “… we are continuing with this project to protect the world from a food crisis,” he stated.
On July 22, Turkey, the United Nations, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been halted since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February.
To oversee the shipments, a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul has been established with officials from the three countries and the UN.
More than 100 ships have transported over 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural products through the grain corridor since the first vessel sailed under the agreement on August 1.