Greece will continue to veto Turkey’s participation in the EU’s SAFE program unless Ankara withdraws its casus belli (cause of war) declaration, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
“The Greek position is absolutely clear: the existence of the casus belli constitutes a formal threat of war and is not diminished by time or by public opinion becoming familiar with it. It is diminished only by its definitive withdrawal,” the source said, adding that Greece will continue to raise the issue with all its partners.
The diplomatic source was responding to Turkey’s Defense Ministry which dismissed earlier the importance of the casus belli, stating that Turkey does not pose a threat to any country that does not threaten it.
The casus belli was declared by Turkey’s parliament in 1995 in response to a potential Greek expansion of its territorial waters.
