Erdogan disputes Treaty of Lausanne, prompting response from Athens

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan caused displeasure in Athens on Thursday by indicating that Ankara "gave away" Aegean islands to Greece under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, the pact that defined the borders of modern Turkey following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

In a speech to regional officials in Ankara, Erdogan appeared to express his regret for the border decisions imposed by the pact. "Some tried to deceive us by presenting Lausanne as victory," he said.

"In Lausanne, we gave away the islands that you could shout across to," he said, referring to Greek islands located in the Aegean Sea close to the Turkish coastline.

Reacting to Erdogan's comments, a Greek Foreign Ministry source remarked that "everyone should respect the Treaty of Lausanne," noting that it is "a reality in the civilized world which no one, including Ankara, can ignore."