The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its rejection of the "accusations and slanders directed at our country by the Greek Foreign Minister in the press statement issued at the conclusion of the Philia Forum held in Athens."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy responded to a question related to the Friendship Forum held in Athens on February 11, with the participation of the foreign ministers of Greece, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and the administration of Southern Cyprus, stating: "Any forum that does not include Turkey, which is pivotal in the region, and Turkish Cypriots cannot form a successful and effective mechanism for friendship and cooperation in regards to the challenges facing the region." He considered that "the accusations and slanders directed at our country by the Greek Foreign Minister in the press statement issued at the conclusion of the forum, which claims that no country is targeted, actually demonstrate that this initiative is an attempt to form an alliance against Turkey, rather than friendship as stated."
The minister emphasized that "those who caused instability in Libya by harboring coup plotters for their narrow interests and extreme demands, those who sought to create a terrorist belt that could divide Syria and Iraq, and those who remained silent for years about the occupation of Azerbaijani territories have no right to criticize Turkey's humanitarian and equity-based policies in the region."
He added: "Greece's and Greek Cyprus's efforts to prevent the positive agenda that the European Union is trying to establish with Turkey, a candidate for membership, and their practice of politics by waiting for help from others, threaten peace and stability in the region," calling on "Greece and Greek Cyprus to act rationally, and the other countries participating in the forum not to fall victim to others' manipulations."
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias affirmed during his speech at the conference, "The 'Friendship Forum' is not directed against any specific party," adding, "We cooperate in that forum in several areas, including energy and culture... as well as our commitment to peace in the region."
