Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will stop talking to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and cancel a key meeting between their two governments, accusing the Greek leader of antagonising Turkey.
In a televised address following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Erdogan accused Mitsotakis of recommending to US officials that Washington not sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey during a recent visit to the United States.
Erdogan then went on to accuse Greece of harbouring followers of US-based religious leader Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey says was behind a failed coup attempt in 2016, and of establishing military bases against Turkey. Gulen has long denied the Turkish allegation.
“We had agreed to not include third countries in our dispute with him. Despite this, last week, he had a visit to the US and talked at the Congress and warned them not to give F-16s to us,” Erdogan said. “He no longer exists for me. I will never agree to meet with him. We will continue our way with honourable politicians.”
Credit: Aljazeera.com
