Ankara has proceeded to successive provocations just ahead of the fifth round of the NATO Summit, while Athens prepares to respond to a possible stage-show by Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he is likely to raise the issue of demilitarization of the Aegean islands.
Instead of lowering tones before the NATO Summit, the Turkish side is upping the ante with both inflammatory statements and threats by Turkish officials or dangerous moves in the Aegean.
Specifically, Ankara is trying to challenge Greek sovereign rights in the field and to “cut” the Aegean in two as through a NOTAM it illegally blocked areas designated for search and rescue and environmental protection exercises for a month.
Is Erdogan preparing a show for the NATO summit?
At the same time, Erdogan seems to be preparing to raise a number of issues at the NATO Summit, opening up all issues that the Turkish side has mustered.
According to the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, Erdogan plans to layout at the Madrid Summit.
In particular, it seems he will raise the following issues:
1. Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO accession
2. Opening of a corridor for Ukrainian and Russian cereals (under Turkish oversight)
3. Russia-Ukraine War
4. Greek provocations (demilitarization of islands)
5. Global financial crisis
6. Turkish military operations on the Syrian border
Threats from Oktay
Turkey, however, has heightened tensions with Greece over the past 24 hours. Turkish Vice-president, Fuat Oktay, once again raised the issue of demilitarization of the eastern Aegean islands, and let more barbs fly against Greece. Oktay threatened that if the islands are not demilitarized Turkey will challenge their sovereignty.
Athens’ answer
Government sources asked by MEGA about the repeated reports from the Turkish side on the issue of demilitarization of the islands responded as follows:
“The right to self-defense is described in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. Anyone interested in discussing it should try to settle the continental shelf issue in The Hague or calculate the cost of a response, to a reckless move, in a way that would not be expected.”
Greek citizen imprisoned in Turkey on charges of espionage
Meanwhile, Greek citizen Mohamed Amar Ambara is being held in pre-trial detention for espionage in favor of Greece.
The Greek citizen, as it became known, was taken to the interrogator’s office and then to prison.
Diplomatic sources in Athens pointed out “regarding the Greek citizen Mohamed Amar Ambara, his disappearance was reported to the Greek Embassy in Ankara a few weeks ago”.
“Since then, the Greek embassy had repeatedly and urgently raised the issue with the Turkish authorities, which, however, never gave an answer,” they added.
Latest News
Lavrio Port Authority Next Up for Privatization
A deadline for the submission of expressions of interest is May 14, 2024
Eurostat: Greece Records Largest Drop in Natural Gas Prices in 2nd Half of 2023
The price of electricity and natural gas in Europe was down following a substantial surge that began before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and peaked in 2022
GEK TERNA Still Considers Leveraging Concessions Portfolio as Financial Tool
President and CEO of Gek Terna George Peristeris explained the company's plans on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of sections of Greece's E65 highway
NielsenIQ: 3% Supermarket Revenue Increase in Q1
Private label products are gaining traction, comprising 25.4% of shopping basket shares, up from 24.7%
Store Hours Change Today in Observation of Orthodox Easter
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce hopes the Easter period will provide a much-needed boost to retail traffic in the capital
Athens-area Mass Transit Systems Set to Finally Install Contact-less Fare Payment
Paying fares via bank cards, smartphones and smartwatches in all mass transit systems in the Greek capital, namely, buses, trolleys, the metro and tram lines, is scheduled by the end of the year
Council of State Rejects Motion Against Thessaloniki Motorway Project
The motion was filed earlier this month by three local citizens’ and environmental groups and generated a high court decision for a temporary stay in construction
Greek 30Y Bond Issue Oversubscribed by 11 Times
Very high demand pushed down the coupon's interest rate to 4.125%
Athens Int’l Airport Wins Top Prize at Routes Europe Awards
The Routes business is focused entirely on aviation route development and the company's portfolio includes events, media and online businesses
IOBE: Income Gap Between Poor and Wealthy Greeks Widens
The findings in the analysis, entitled “Progressivity in Income Taxation in Greece, 2012-2021", paint a bleak picture for Greeks in the bottom half of the income bracket, warning that income inequality is growing