ATHENS, 2 March, 2021 (TON): As Ankara faced criticism from some quarters, last week Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that Greek authorities are not being naive about their exploratory talks with Turkey but they will not fall into the trap to undermine the dialogue by withdrawing from it.

Turkey was unable to reply to the invitation of the Greek foreign ministry on maritime exploratory talks to take place between 1 March and 5 March.

If Turkey accepted the invitation it would be the 62^nd round of talks that were resumed amid pressure from the EU, Germany in an attempt to ease tension in the eastern Mediterranean.

Last week, Ankara accused Athens of sending F-16 fighter jets to harass the Cesme and published a video to support its claims. However, Greece said it did not violate the protection bubble around the vessel.

While accusing Greece of illegal turning away of migrants trying to cross the Turkish border, it said, “Push-backs and unlawful practices that Greece has been carrying out in a systematic policy where in some cases the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency/Frontex has also been involved have been continuing for years,” it said. “In the past four years, more than 80,000 asylum-seekers were pushed back to our country.”

However, the relations of both countries are under observation and under the focus of the next European Council Summit in Brussels on 25 and 26 March, as of March 2016 EU-Turkey migration statement is examined by Brussels.