The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey clashed over a wide variety of issues during a volatile press conference at the end of their first meeting in more than a year.
The meeting in Ankara between Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias came after signs tensions between the countries were cooling. They also held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The two countries teetered on the edge of conflict when their warships collided while shadowing each other during a Turkish operation into disputed Eastern Mediterranean waters last August.
After their talks, Mr Cavusoglu said the countries held a "very positive dialogue".
But Mr Dendias used his opening remarks to list a series of long-standing complaints about Turkey, from its search for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean to its treatment of the Greek Orthodox minority and an ongoing dispute about migrants.
"Greece's position is clear and this is not the first time you have heard it," Mr Dendias told Mr Cavusoglu.
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A soldier hangs from a helicopter during a military exercise in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. AFP -
Turkey's research vessel, Oruc Reis, center, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey. AP -
Turkish seismic research vessel 'Oruc Reis' heads in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean Sea.AFP -
A Turkish Navy warship patroling next to Turkey's drilling ship "Fatih" dispatched towards the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus. AFP -
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord , during their meeting in Istanbul. Turkey signed a military deal late on November 27, 2019, with Libya's UN-recognised government following a meeting with Turkish President in Istanbul, his office said. AFP
Mr Cavusoglu said the remarks from Mr Dendias were unacceptable.
“Turkey is obliged to protect its own rights, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, and those of Cypriot Turks; all the steps we take are aimed at protecting our rights,” Mr Cavusoglu said.
He said it was not possible for him to accept the accusation Turkey violated Greece's sovereignty.
"If you heavily accuse my country and people before the press, I have to be in a position to respond to that," Mr Cavusoglu said.
"If you want to continue our tensions, we can. If we go into mutual recriminations here, we have a lot to tell each other."
But Mr Dendias also invited Mr Cavusoglu for talks in Greece and said "there is significant scope for an improvement in bilateral ties".
