Greece–Turkey relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Thursday that if his country's dispute with Greece over the Aegean Sea is not resolved, there is "another option." 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that the country's differences with Greece over the Aegean Sea will be put to the National Security Council for discussion, indicating that there is "another option" for the government besides diplomacy for resolving the dispute.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and the Istanbul-based Orthodox Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomew on Nov. 3 signed an accord that paves the way for the recognition of an independent Ukrainian church, provoking new fury in Moscow.

In response to warnings this week from Turkey that it will take all necessary measures to protect its interests in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean from supposed unilateral Greek actions, Athens described Ankara as a "violator" of international law.

The United States said in a statement on Sept. 25 that it supports Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomew's stance on granting independence to the Ukrainian Church.

The Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Ministry has warned fishers in the Aegean region not to enter the territorial waters of Greece.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Sept. 10 welcomed Greece's decision to return two Turkish soldiers after they were held for crossing over to the Greek side of the border last week.

Greece allowed two Turkish soldiers to return after they were held, when they crossed over to the Greek side of the border by mistake on Sept. 9, the Chief of General Staff said in a statement.

European Parliament lawmaker Eliza Vozemberg has asked the European Commission to look into claims by Greek fishermen that Turkish trawlers have been systematically violating Greek territorial waters.

The issue of the eight Turkish servicemen that Ankara wants extradited continue to cast a shadow over Greek-Turkish relations as was evident during Tuesday's otherwise cordial meeting between foreign ministers Nikos Kotzias and Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The two men met during the inauguration of the renovated Greek Consulate building in Izmir.