TURKEY

European Commission spokesperson for external affairs Peter Stano said that differences need to be settled peacefully, in full respect of international law and of countries' vital and legitimate interests, while threats and aggressive rhetoric are unacceptable and need to stop.

Prime Minister referred again to the "bomb" of simple proportional representation that will hinder the formation of a government in the first elections in a very difficult period.

Despite "assurances from the Turkish side, we are witnessing an escalation of Turkish aggressive rhetoric, as well as unprecedented actions against our sovereignty and sovereign rights," said the Greek Foreign Affairs Minister.

Following his one-day visit to Israel on Thursday where he met separately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaju and Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi, Dendias is scheduled to speak with several officials ahead of Friday's extraordinary online meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Mitsotakis also stressed that Greece is also mobilizing its diplomacy, notifying friendly nations and alerting allies and partners. "We are not alone in this effort. The immediate response of the European Union to our request to convene the Foreign Affairs Council confirms that this is not purely an issue of Greek-Turkish relations. It concerns the relations of all of Europe with Turkey," he said.

Calling the issue one that bears international gravitas, Stelios Petsas added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision is «mistaken and will give rise to a series of problems for him," expressing his conviction that "such delinquent behavior, an insult of this magnitude, should have a corresponding response».

"A diplomatic marathon has already been announced in the coming days and we are waiting to see how it develops. On Monday, the prime minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and on Tuesday with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Regarding refugee-migration, we are on the same grounds with Germany in order to proceed with a Dublin 4 review in August, not now, which will definitely have a burden-sharing mechanism."

The government also intends to present its reforms planning and highlight that Greece is an attractive destination for investments, a country at the heart of the European Union that has a say in all the major issues.

Dendias said the resumption of Greek foreign policy "goes well beyond strengthening our ties and cooperation with the countries of the Balkans" and called his visit to Bulgaria "very productive."