Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Friday described remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as “utterly unacceptable and improper.”

Speaking from Copenhagen, where he was attending an informal meeting of EU defense ministers, Dendias said Fidan’s comments “violate a principle known even to first-year diplomats: the principle of non-interference in the internal politics of other countries.”

In a televised interview on Thursday, Fidan warned that tensions with Greece could escalate into a crisis with “geostrategic costs” for Athens if Greek politicians continued what he called “cheap politics” targeting Ankara.

His comments were also condemned earlier on Friday by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.