Turkey’s foreign minister said on Thursday that issues such as "casus belli", or the justification for acts of war, would drop off the agenda once Turkish-Greek relations got stronger.
Speaking to reporters on his way from Greece to Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the "casus belli" issue between Turkey and Greece had been brought forward by a Greek journalist at a press conference during his visit.
Davutoglu said Turkey’s decision on "casus belli" was an action against a move by the Greek parliament.
Recalling Greek parliament’s 1996-dated decision to extend Greece’s territorial waters to 12 miles, Davutoglu noted that, upon such development, the Turkish parliament had authorized the government to take the necessary measures in case Greece implemented such decision.
Referring to his reply to the Greek reporter’s question on the matter, Davutoglu said he had expressed that Turkey could consider cancelling such decision once the Greek party lifted its relevant ruling.
"While commenting on my remarks, some press organs in Greece perceived my words as a positive message towards the lifting of ’casus belli’, while some considered it as a ’condition set by Turkey’. No matter how they perceive my statement, this is the actual situation. I hope relations between Turkey and Greece will grow stronger and issues like that will drop off the agenda," Davutoglu said.