Turkey's parliament speaker: Greece should not be tool of other countries' ambition

Greece should not let it be used by countries trying to exploit it for their own domestic political games and ambitions, said Turkey’s parliament speaker on Wednesday.

Instead, Greece must act with common sense and should respect international law, treaties, and Turkey’s rights in the Mediterranean, Mustafa Sentop told journalists in the Aegean province of Izmir.

Sentop said he wonders why other countries, especially France, follow Greece and try to be part of the region and seek their benefits in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

“Incompetent politicians try to cover up their wrongdoings in domestic politics with some unreasonable and irrational moves in the international arena,” he said.

Sentop stressed that the personal ambitions of such politicians threaten all neighboring countries in the region, especially Greece.

Turkish officials have decried France’s interference in the Eastern Mediterranean dispute, pointing out that it has no territory in the region. Commentators have argued President Emmanuel Macron is trying to distract from his political failures.