Devlet Bahçeli

The leader of a Turkish opposition party, Devlet Bahceli, on Wednesday warned Athens that it is "playing with fire" after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras warned that Ankara's relations with the European Union will be severely disrupted if it "violates international law [and] the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus."

The leader of Turkey's nationalist MHP opposition party Devlet Bahceli, an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attacked Greece and Cyprus during an election rally in Izmir on Sunday, claiming "Cyprus is Turkish."

Bahceli was commenting on Greek criticism over an MHP campaign video that depicts the island of Cyprus as Turkish territory.

An incident on Monday night involving a Turkish helicopter flying at low altitude with its lights out near the Greek islet of Ro is seen by Athens as yet another demonstration of Ankara's strategy of continued tension in the Aegean, Ekathimerini writes.

A day after a Turkish coast guard helicopter flew around the perimeter of Ro at a low altitude, prompting a response from troops stationed on the eastern Aegean islet, the leader of Turkey's nationalist MHP opposition party Devlet Bahceli attacked Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos warning him against provoking "a repeat of history."

In the latest serving of hostile rhetoric from across the Aegean, the leader of Turkey's ultra-right MHP party Devlet Bahceli, an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday hit out at Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Washington appears to have activated a channel of communication with Ankara in a bid to reduce the recent spike in tensions with Greece in the Aegean Sea.

As the deadline for the formation of an interim government will expire on Aug. 28, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has continued his work to form a government which would represent different segments of society, with a specific emphasis on nationalist grassroots.