Greece concerned over rising tension with Turkey
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis has said her country is troubled by an increase in tension with Turkey over the Aegean Sea.
The two NATO allies have been at odds for years over airspace boundaries and flight procedures over the Aegean Sea, which divides them, and mock dogfights between fighter jets from each side are common.
Bakoyannis said Wednesday that there has been a recent increase in violations by Turkey, "which of course troubles us and we are analyzing it." The minister said the reasons behind the tension were unclear.
"What this is due to and why we are seeing these displays recently of increased tension, I cannot say. There are many interpretations," Bakoyannis told The Associated Press in an interview. "But I am interested in the result, and the result is that there must be the realization that this is not behavior that is based on European law."
The minister said Athens had hoped for an improvement in Greek-Turkish ties in 2008, when Kostas Karamanlis became the first Greek prime minister to visit Ankara in 49 years.
"Unfortunately this aim was not achieved," she said.
Bakoyannis stressed that Greece supported Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, but said Ankara must meet EU criteria.
"I have said it many times, there is no Europe a la carte for any country, whether that country is 70 million or 700,000," she said. The 27-nation EU has suspended membership negotiations in eight of 35 different policy areas over Turkey's refusal to recognize and open its ports and airports to EU member Greek Cyprus. Only 10 less important files have been opened for talks.
06 February 2009, Friday
AP WITH TODAY'S ZAMAN ANKARA
Re: Greece concerned over rising tension with Turkey
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ANKARA — Greece and Turkey are continuing to stage mock combat air dogfights despite months of ongoing negotiations.
Officials said Greek F-16 multi-role fighters have been challenging Turkish Air Force combat aircraft during patrols and training missions over the Aegean. They said that although talks have been held to arrange recognized corridors, the mock dogfights continued throughout 2008.
"Despite our efforts over the last 18 months, the Hellenic Air Force has not revised any of its rules of engagement," a Turkish official said.
Athens has set its territorial air space as being 16 kilometers from the Greek coast, and its territorial waters as 25 kilometers from shore. Turkey, deeming this a violation of international law, does not recognize the Greek boundaries.
The Turkish military recorded hundreds of Greek interception attempts of Turkish combat aircraft in 2008.
In November 2008, Greek warplanes engaged Turkish fighters 58 times without incident.
In May 2006, a Greek F-16 aircraft crashed and one of its pilots was killed in a dogfight over the Aegean about 60 kilometers south of Rhodes. An Athens court has convicted in absentia the Turkish F-16 pilot of wrongful death. The Turkish F-16 plane also crashed, but the pilot ejected safely.
"This judgment has no basis or any legal value whatsoever," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Jan. 31. "It also shows how easily the law can be conveniently manipulated and the principle of fair trial can be violated with unilateral claims. It is only natural that all the required demarches be made and the necessary measures taken in this regard."
Over the last year, officials said, Turkey's military has asked NATO to mediate the border dispute. Ankara has also proposed the drafting of a code of conduct to end Greek harassment.
"NATO does not want to get involved," the official said.
