Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed no sign of letting up on the incendiary rhetoric on Tuesday, describing Greece as “unable to help itself” and as “bait” that is being used by other countries.

“The greatest injustice is done by those who tried to fulfill their ambitions by propping up a state that existed by hiding behind others. We’re tired of the shadow play. It’s comical to use a country that can’t even help itself to bait a regional and global power like Turkey,” Erdogan was quoted by the Associated Press as saying during a speech in Ankara.

Recent activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean – which have set Ankara at odds with Athens, Nicosia and the European Union – are being carried out in pursuit of Turkey’s rights and justice, he said.

“The colonial era is over and we believe that Turkey’s allies will increase in this new period,” Erdogan added, in an apparent swipe at Greece and Cyprus’ European allies.

The Turkish president’s latest inflammatory comments come as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday indicated that Ankara is open to dialogue with Greece.

Source: Ekathimerini