Support for Greece's selfishness unacceptable: Erdogan

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president on Thursday spoke to Germany's chancellor via video link, criticizing as "unacceptable" some countries' support for Greece's selfish and unfair attitude.

During the call with Angela Merkel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and other countries that backed the two, were causing deadlock and escalating tensions.

He also welcomed Merkel's efforts to resolve disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean caused by Greece and its backers.

Besides the Eastern Mediterranean, the two also discussed other regional issues, as well as bilateral relations.

Greece has attempted to illegally restrict Turkey's maritime territory, trying to box it in to its shores based on small Greek islands near the Turkish coast.

Turkey has argued the sides should instead sit down for dialogue to reach a win-win solution based on fair sharing.

Greece has also recently carried out military drills -- including with France -- meant to intimidate Turkey into stopping energy exploration, and has illegally armed Aegean islands in violation of longstanding peace treaties.

Athens' recent maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt also violates Turkey's continental shelf and maritime rights, sparking further tensions between the two neighbors.