Nikos Papagiotopoulos

Panagiotopoulos denies Erdogan’s claim that Athens promised not to approach Imia

Defence Minister Nikos Papagiotopoulos denied the public statement of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Athens agreed with Ankara not to approach the Imia islets on the anniversary of the 1996 dispute over their sovereignty brought the two countries to the brink of war.

Erdogan's remark triggered a political backlash in Athens.

Greek, Turkish defense ministers discuss Aegean, CBMs in Brussels

Greece and Turkey's defense ministers discussed the increased tensions in the eastern Aegean on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels on Friday, in their first meeting since Nikos Papagiotopoulos took office.

The Greek minister raised the issue of Turkey's illegal actions in the Aegean, according to sources cited by news website Skai.