Historically, Greece prefers a peaceful diplomacy to neighbor Turkey. Often, this becomes even friendly. Truth is , that this peaceful intention makes sometimes Greece’s stance to seem almost “speechless”
The Greek Prime Minister’s office said Greece’s government “strongly complained via the diplomatic path that such claims are absolutely unacceptable according to the international law” and chose to not further raise tensions.
The e-mailed statement verifies reports in local media, Xinqua today , (ten days later) wrote, that on Feb. 6 Ankara prevented the aircraft from landing on the Greek island of Rhodes for refueling and then continuing its trip to Teheran flying over Turkish airspace.
Turkish authorities argued that the plane was considered a military aircraft since it had military pilots,
therefore could not land on Rhodes and then fly over Turkey, since “the island is a demilitarized zone.” Athens does not recognize the claim.
Ankara suggested the plane ( reminding, which was carrying the Greek PM) to land for refueling in Turkey instead of the Greek island Rhodes for which the Greek Air plan was suggesting, and then continue the journey with Ankara’s overflight permission
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos elaborated speaking to Greek Star TV on Nikos Hatzini9koloaou New show , answering to questions of Defense Reporter Paris Karvounopoulos.
The incident, by the way, occurred opn the special timing of the two countires Greece and Turkey’s historic agreement to cooperate under NATO’s umbrella in the Aegean Sea to manage the refugee flows from Turkey to Europe.
“We ALL need to find us a good … national psychologist!”
comments Paris Karvounopoulos on his article in the new Militaire.gr site on GreekDefense and Military Affairs.
“To address the “tourkophobia” , the credible reporter explains , “which has held for decades Greece’s position on a not-at-all-provocative response to any aggressive or furious provocation from Turkey’s side that could be shown. But let’s not get it to the edge,” Karvouynopoulos adds, “and find oursleves always willingly to do all Ankara’s favors”.
“How could be, a Greek Prime Minister himself not to be allowed to land the PM airplane on Greek land. And finally, Prime Minister of Greece’s alternative flight plan to choose to avoid “any type of crash”, by dissmissing landing on the Greek island and choosing another route…”
Instead of submitting a new flight plan to Ankara that would circumvent Rhodes, the PM’s plane eventually flew to Egypt for refueling and then continued over Cyprus, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to reach Iran, the PM’s office today’s statement added.
Mr Tsipras had to land on the Greek island, Paris Karvounopoulos insists . “Prime Minister had to ignore completely the Turkish absurdity and land in Rhodes. As simple as that”.
Recently, Ankara has taken a series of “landmark” challenges that can not be ignored militaire.gr article notes. “Our islands and Aegean regions’ sovereignity is systematically questioned, the “demilitarization” of the Dodecanese is boldy highlighted, even ,now, the … Prime Empraer! NOTAM which denies everything and especially the “logic” of the Aegean, even on the same moments that Greece is looking to find its heroes dead……. The Athens side remains consistently … silent.”
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