ATHENS — The head of foreign affairs issues for main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Giorgos Katrougalos, in statements after he was briefed by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Thursday, welcomed the agreement with Albania to refer differences on maritime zones to the International Court of Justice at The Hague but also spoke of government contradictions as regards Greek-Turkish relations.

"Since the government considers that the negotiation begun during SYRIZA's governance cannot be completed, we view recourse to the Hague as very positive because it is a way that is acceptable under international law," he said, adding that any similar differences, including the one with Turkey, should be resolved through dialogue, exploratory contacts "and, if these fail, by recourse to The Hague".

On relations with Turkey, he pointed out the obvious contradiction between the foreign ministry's stated intention to expand Greece's territorial waters, including in Crete, which he said Dendias had announced in August, "and the Prime Minister's complete silence on the issue recently in the parliament".

"All the above indicate the doublespeak and internal contradictions within the government even at highest level… and it is precisely this that once again proves indicates the lack of strategy, the lack of a compass for which not only do we rebuke the government but ask for a political leaders' meeting to finally find a national strategy again," he concluded.