The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, has warned Turkey to think again over its threat to annex northern Cyprus for being excluded from the EU's enlargement plans.
"Greece is opposed to all escalation in confrontations in the region," Mr Simitis said yesterday, warning that his country would take "all the necessary measures" should Turkey proceed as threatened.
Mr Simitis said during a meeting of Greek party leaders that the threatened annexation would do the most damage to Turkey and its chances of joining the EU.
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Ismail Cem, told his NATO counterparts in Brussels yesterday that Turkey would proceed with the "partial integration" of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus if the EU starts membership negotiations with the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government next spring.
A senior Turkish official in Ankara warned that full annexation had not been ruled out by Ankara. The Greek prime minister said he doubted that Turkey would want to worsen its "confrontation" with the EU, but added "we can't exclude it".
Mr Simitis reiterated that Greece did not object to Turkey's inclusion in the EU provided it adhered to European rules and principles.
Turkey's threat came in angry reaction to an EU summit decision on Saturday not to invite Ankara to begin negotiations on joining the EU as part of its enlargement plans to begin in earnest next spring.
The Greek government spokesman, Mr Dimitris Reppas, noted that Turkey's economic and military relations with the northern part of Cyprus, which it has occupied since 1974, are now "very advanced".
"In the occupied territories they have tanks, large numbers of military forces, what more can Turkey do?" asked Mr Reppas. But he warned Turkey to consider the consequences of attempting to annex northern Cyprus, saying it would be "a great mistake".
"Greece is ready to face off any Turkish threat," declared Mr Reppas, adding that Athens "does not want to trouble relations and the climate between the two countries and recognise events which are tantamount to a declaration of war."
In Ankara, a senior Turkish official warned that Turkey may annex northern Cyprus if the EU goes ahead with membership talks with the Cypriot government.
The official said that instead of a previously proposed "integration" between northern Cyprus and Turkey, Ankara may opt to simply annex the Turkish-occupied part of the island.
"In the worst of cases, this could lead to annexation," said the official who requested anonymity. "In such a scenario, you could see northern Cyprus attached to Mersin provonce."