By Nazli Yuzbasioglu
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy on Wednesday responded to a statement by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos regarding EU’s environmental program “Natura 2000”.
In response to a question, Aksoy warned the EU “not to become a tool of Greece’s political exploitations “.
“It is well known that Greece has long been exploiting EU’s environmental programmes, primarily 'Natura 2000' with respect to the Aegean issues, ” the statement said, adding that the Foreign Ministry had released a statement regarding the matter on March 31.
“Turkey’s position on this issue was also explained last week to a representative of the EU Delegation,” it added.
The Greek president made a statement establishing a strained relationship between “Natura 2000” network and borders and territory, Aksoy said.
“These statements do not bear any legal effect.
“Moreover, such statements are of a confessional character demonstrating that Greece simply abuses EU’s environmental programmes such as “Natura 2000” according to its political expediency. ”
Aksoy said Turkey would not accept any possible fait accompli presented by Greece towards the geographical formations in the Aegean Sea, the legal status of which are disputed.
A decades-long dispute between Turkey and Greece over the uninhabited Aegean islets brought the two countries to the brink of armed conflict in 1996 and led to renewed tensions this year.