Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a news conference at the annual International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, Greece, September 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

ATHENS, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday that Athens would try to keep communication channels with Ankara open despite recent “unacceptable” comments from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan accused Greece of occupying demilitarised islands in the Aegean Sea and saying Turkey was ready to “do what is necessary” when the time came.

“I consider recent statements by the Turkish president unacceptable,” Mitsotakis told a news conference in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

“However, we will always try to keep communication channels open,” he said, adding he has been always willing to meet Erdogan.

Reporting by George Georgiopoulos and Angeliki Koutantou; editing by John Stonestreet

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