ATHENS – Government spokesperson Stelios Petsas on Friday expressed the government disapproval of the events planned by Turkish authorities outside Hagia Sophia, on the occasion of the 567th anniversary since the Fall of Constantinople.

Speaking to SKAI TV, Petsas said: "The fiesta Ankara is preparing at Hagia Sophia is annoying because, apart from everything else, [Hagia Sophia] has been proclaimed a world cultural heritage museum and it is now being used to promote other purposes".

Petsas pointed out that this was not the first time that something along these lines was happening at the historic church, adding that Greece was now stronger than at any other time in relation to Turkey due to the way it has dealt with the situation in Evros and also due to its successful management of the pandemic.

"We are monitoring any provocation but we always promote good neighbourly relations, in accordance with international law," he said.