September 30, 2016 - 13:10 AMT
Athens slams Erdogan's attempt to question legitimacy of Greek border

Greek diplomats and politicians have lashed out Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks about the Lausanne Treaty, citing them as an attempt to question the existing borders between the two countries and the status of the Greek islands, local media reported Thursday, September 29, according to Sputnik.

The Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923, by Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Romania, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Turkey. It set the current borders of Turkey, documenting the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

Earlier on Thursday, Erdogan criticized the Lausanne Treaty, saying it was pushed by Turkey's opponents. He added that Turkey ceded some islands to Greece, where Turkish sanctuaries and mosques were situated.

Greece's Skai broadcaster reported, citing the country's diplomatic sources that the Treaty of Lausanne had been recognized by the entire civilized world and Turkey could not challenge it.

All the Greek political parties also condemned Erdogan’s remarks, calling them provocative, according to the TV channel.