Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2481
2006-05-05 04:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
ALLEGED HARASSMENT OF US FLAGGED YACHT BY GREEK
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002481
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2026
TAGS: PREL GR TU
SUBJECT: ALLEGED HARASSMENT OF US FLAGGED YACHT BY GREEK
COAST GUARD
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002481
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2026
TAGS: PREL GR TU
SUBJECT: ALLEGED HARASSMENT OF US FLAGGED YACHT BY GREEK
COAST GUARD
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The Greek Coast Guard fired warning shots that struck
an American-flagged yacht in the Aegean on April 30,
according to MFA Maritime/Aviation Deputy Director General
Vakur Gokdenizler. The Greek Coast Guard reportedly objected
to the boat's flying a Turkish flag on its mast while it was
in Greek waters. Gokdenizler provided us with a non-paper
containing the operative portion of a diplomatic note MFA
will deliver to the Greek Embassy in the near future
protesting the incident (text at para 3).
2. (C) When asked whether this type of incident occurs
frequently, Gokdenizler said no. Seven or eight months ago,
the Greek Coast Guard fired on another civilian vessel near
Lesvos, he recalled. The GOT protested that event as well.
Around Imia/Kardak, where most confrontations between vessels
occur, the usual practice is for the Turkish and Greek coast
guards to cut the nets of the other side's fishing boats that
venture near the island. Gokdenizler thought it
inappropriate to use weapons and live ammunition in a case
involving only a flag, although he admitted that
international practice is to fly the flag of the country in
whose waters you are located. He surmised that the yacht's
captain probably didn't want to bother given he was sailing
from one Turkish port to another. Gokdenizler did not ask
that the US do anything about this incident, but said he
wanted to inform us because the yacht was registered in the
US.
3. (C) Begin text of MFA non-paper:
According to the information reported by the Captain of the
US flagged motor yacht "EMO", a Greek Coast Guard boat
approached and harassed the said yacht around the coordinates
3857N3-02635E6 southeast off Midilli (Lesvos) Island on 30
April 2006 at about 1200 hours while the yacht was sailing
from Istanbul to Kusadasi.
It was reported that, following various harassing maneuvers,
the Greek Coast Guard boat asked the Captain of the "EMO" to
lower the Turkish flag the yacht was carrying on her main
mast and subsequently opened fire with a light automatic
weapon first in the air and then towards the pole flying the
Turkish flag. The Greek Coast Guard boat later left the area.
As a consequence of this act, which is not only clearly
excessive and unacceptable in accordance with international
law, but also is not in conformity with the good-neighborly
relations between Turkey and Greece, the breakdown lights of
the said yacht were damaged.
End text.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2026
TAGS: PREL GR TU
SUBJECT: ALLEGED HARASSMENT OF US FLAGGED YACHT BY GREEK
COAST GUARD
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The Greek Coast Guard fired warning shots that struck
an American-flagged yacht in the Aegean on April 30,
according to MFA Maritime/Aviation Deputy Director General
Vakur Gokdenizler. The Greek Coast Guard reportedly objected
to the boat's flying a Turkish flag on its mast while it was
in Greek waters. Gokdenizler provided us with a non-paper
containing the operative portion of a diplomatic note MFA
will deliver to the Greek Embassy in the near future
protesting the incident (text at para 3).
2. (C) When asked whether this type of incident occurs
frequently, Gokdenizler said no. Seven or eight months ago,
the Greek Coast Guard fired on another civilian vessel near
Lesvos, he recalled. The GOT protested that event as well.
Around Imia/Kardak, where most confrontations between vessels
occur, the usual practice is for the Turkish and Greek coast
guards to cut the nets of the other side's fishing boats that
venture near the island. Gokdenizler thought it
inappropriate to use weapons and live ammunition in a case
involving only a flag, although he admitted that
international practice is to fly the flag of the country in
whose waters you are located. He surmised that the yacht's
captain probably didn't want to bother given he was sailing
from one Turkish port to another. Gokdenizler did not ask
that the US do anything about this incident, but said he
wanted to inform us because the yacht was registered in the
US.
3. (C) Begin text of MFA non-paper:
According to the information reported by the Captain of the
US flagged motor yacht "EMO", a Greek Coast Guard boat
approached and harassed the said yacht around the coordinates
3857N3-02635E6 southeast off Midilli (Lesvos) Island on 30
April 2006 at about 1200 hours while the yacht was sailing
from Istanbul to Kusadasi.
It was reported that, following various harassing maneuvers,
the Greek Coast Guard boat asked the Captain of the "EMO" to
lower the Turkish flag the yacht was carrying on her main
mast and subsequently opened fire with a light automatic
weapon first in the air and then towards the pole flying the
Turkish flag. The Greek Coast Guard boat later left the area.
As a consequence of this act, which is not only clearly
excessive and unacceptable in accordance with international
law, but also is not in conformity with the good-neighborly
relations between Turkey and Greece, the breakdown lights of
the said yacht were damaged.
End text.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON