Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Monday, September 7 that Turkey is the only country that opens a war front everywhere, Greek City Times reports.

Dendias made the comments at a meeting with his Maltese counterpart Evarist Bartolo in Athens.

He said Europe needs to “fully stand up to these circumstances” and “to respond firmly and without hesitation to Turkish challenges, security issues, but also to immigration.

“Europe has the ability to do it quite effectively,” Dendias said. “The choice is simple and it is up to Turkey to choose: dialogue without threats and blackmail, or sanctions.”

The Foreign Minister reiterated that Greece is always ready for a talks with Turkey, but talks within the framework of international law.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier threatened Greece to enter talks over escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean or face consequences. Erdogan's warning came after NATO said military officers from Greece and Turkey had begun technical talks to avoid armed conflict or accidents.