BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU) Sunday criticized recent comments made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, disputing Greece’s sovereignty over some of its islands, as “counterproductive and contradict de-escalation efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

“Greece’s sovereignty over these islands is unquestionable,” said EU lead spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano in a statement Sunday.

“Turkey should respect it, refrain from provocative statements and actions in this regard, commit unequivocally to good neighborly relations and work to settle any disputes peacefully. International agreements must be respected,” he added.

Cavusoglu reportedly in an interview with the state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) last week called on Greece to demilitarize the islands and warned that it will start a debate questioning their sovereignty, if Athens does not change its stance.

“We sent two letters to the UN. We sent them because Greece is violating the demilitarization regime of the islands. These islands were ceded to Greece by the Treaties of Lausanne of 1923 and of Paris of 1947 on the condition of their demilitarization. But Greece has been violating this regime since the 1960s,” said the Turkish minister.

“In the letter we wrote we mentioned that Greece violates the terms of the treaties, these islands were given under conditions, and if Greece does not change its position, then the sovereignty of these islands is debatable,” he added. — KUNA