Henry Kissinger, U.S. Secretary of State at the time of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus told then U.S. President Gerald Ford that Turkey was entitled to seize part of the island, according to the National Herald, a U.S. newspaper focusing on Greek affairs.

Alternate government spokeswoman Klelia Vasiliou on Tuesday denied a newspaper article about an alleged Nicosia-Tel Aviv agreement for the construction of a small harbour in Cyprus in order to end the isolation of the Gaza Strip, saying that it was not accurate.

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos issued a stark warning to Turkey saying if at any point it disputed the sovereignty of Greek territories it would receive a “crushing response”.