Hami Aksoy

Ankara on Tuesday described the bloc comprising Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an attempt to create an "axis of malice" led by France.

A declaration signed on Monday by the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and the United Arab Emirates denouncing "ongoing Turkish illegal activities" in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) "is a case in point of the hypocrisy of a group of countries who are seeking regional chaos and instability," Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hami Aksoy, said on Monday.

Ankara on Monday attempted to present its stance in the Aegean as part of "routine" operations after Sunday's harassment by Turkish jets of the helicopter that was transporting Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) Konstantinos Floros to military posts on Oinousses and Panagia, Agathonisi and Farmakonisi.

Turkey on Monday rejected claims by Greece that two of its fighter jets harassed a helicopter carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos on Sunday, saying the planes were conducting "routine flights" in the area.

Turkey on May 4 denied allegations that Turkish forces had harassed a helicopter carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos over the Aegean Sea.

"Any harassment of the helicopter carrying Greece's national defense minister on board is out of the question," said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy in a statement.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on April 30 to abandon its hostile attitude towards Ankara.
In response to a question from a reporter, spokesperson Hami Aksoy said the Turkish government has always respected the political unity and territorial integrity of Arab countries and supports the U.N.-recognized administration of Libya in this regard.

Turkey on April 29 slammed a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom which recommended the U.S. government include Turkey on its "Special Watch List" (SWL) for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy has derided the European Union as a "mouthpiece for the maximalist policies of the Greek Cypriot-Greek duo."

Israel's attempts to annex the West Bank from Palestinians show "an extremely dangerous mindset aimed at extorting occupied Palestinian lands," Turkey warned on April 24. 

Turkey has slammed the European Union over its remarks on the Turkish drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean and called on Brussels to "stop being used" by Greece and Greek Cyprus in the name of archaic solidarity.