Ewan
19th May 2017, 08:45
http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-warns-turkey-after-it-violates-greek-airspace-141-times-in-one-day/
According to Greek press reports, 20 Turkish F-16, 5 CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft and 19 helicopters entered the Athens flight information region (FIR) without submitting a flight plan.
In all cases, Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted by Greek fighters, while in nine cases the interception process resulted in near combat situations.
In addition, two Turkish missile boats entered Greek territorial waters off the southeast Aegean island of Agathonisi.
The vessels, which were taking part in a maritime exercise code-named Denizkurdu (Seawolf), stayed in Greek territorial waters for about 20 minutes. As Kathimerini journal reported, last month Agathonisi was described as a “Turkish island” by Turkey’s Minister of European Union Affairs Omer Celik.
The serious incidents occurred just a few hours after the meeting of Greek premier Alexis Tsipras with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in Beijing.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong communique saying that the incident “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law”.
“It is clear that there are forces in Turkey that do not want understanding and good neighbourly relations between the two countries,” the Greek ministry added.
More... (http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-warns-turkey-after-it-violates-greek-airspace-141-times-in-one-day/)
¤=[Post Update]=¤
https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/turkish-generals-seek-asylum-in-germany-767325
Two Turkish generals involved in last July’s failed military coup have applied for asylum in Frankfurt, German newspaper Bild reported late Tuesday.
The two men are allegedly going to be transported to an initial reception facility in the city of Giessen in central Germany.
Germany’s decision to grant asylum to Turks accused of participating in last year’s coup has heightened tension between the two NATO allies, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday.
For the second time in a year, Ankara has refused to let German parliamentarians visit 250 troops stationed at Incirlik air base. This time, German officials are openly threatening to pull the plug on the deployment if Ankara does not change its tune.
Germany currently uses the military airbase Incirlik near the capital Ankara to support US and other international partners in surveillance and fighting Islamic State in Syria.
Chancellor Angela Merkel called the Turkish decision unfortunate and said Berlin had made it clear to Ankara through multiple channels that parliamentarians must be able to visit German troops at the air base.
According to Greek press reports, 20 Turkish F-16, 5 CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft and 19 helicopters entered the Athens flight information region (FIR) without submitting a flight plan.
In all cases, Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted by Greek fighters, while in nine cases the interception process resulted in near combat situations.
In addition, two Turkish missile boats entered Greek territorial waters off the southeast Aegean island of Agathonisi.
The vessels, which were taking part in a maritime exercise code-named Denizkurdu (Seawolf), stayed in Greek territorial waters for about 20 minutes. As Kathimerini journal reported, last month Agathonisi was described as a “Turkish island” by Turkey’s Minister of European Union Affairs Omer Celik.
The serious incidents occurred just a few hours after the meeting of Greek premier Alexis Tsipras with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan in Beijing.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong communique saying that the incident “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law”.
“It is clear that there are forces in Turkey that do not want understanding and good neighbourly relations between the two countries,” the Greek ministry added.
More... (http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-warns-turkey-after-it-violates-greek-airspace-141-times-in-one-day/)
¤=[Post Update]=¤
https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/turkish-generals-seek-asylum-in-germany-767325
Two Turkish generals involved in last July’s failed military coup have applied for asylum in Frankfurt, German newspaper Bild reported late Tuesday.
The two men are allegedly going to be transported to an initial reception facility in the city of Giessen in central Germany.
Germany’s decision to grant asylum to Turks accused of participating in last year’s coup has heightened tension between the two NATO allies, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday.
For the second time in a year, Ankara has refused to let German parliamentarians visit 250 troops stationed at Incirlik air base. This time, German officials are openly threatening to pull the plug on the deployment if Ankara does not change its tune.
Germany currently uses the military airbase Incirlik near the capital Ankara to support US and other international partners in surveillance and fighting Islamic State in Syria.
Chancellor Angela Merkel called the Turkish decision unfortunate and said Berlin had made it clear to Ankara through multiple channels that parliamentarians must be able to visit German troops at the air base.