Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1298
2009-09-03 10:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH MILITARY DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1298 2461015 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031015Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0699 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 0017 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001298
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK
AIRLINER
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001298
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK
AIRLINER
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) The Turkish General Staff (TGS) posted a statement
(unoffical translation in para. 2) on September 2 refuting
Greek media claims that Turkish F-16s harassed a Greek
airliner in the Aegean on August 31.
2. (U) Begin unofficial translation of TGS statement:
Allegations from Greece have arisen that eight Turkish F-16s
had harassed Olympic Airlines Flight OAL-983 on August 31
while it was in international airspace flying at 14000 feet,
and that one Turkish fighter came within 100 feet of the
passenger airliner.
An investigation into this issue has found that the Turkish
aircraft were under radar control conducting training flights
at 6000 feet in international airspace in the Aegean.
It has been determined that the closest point that Turkish
aircraft came within the Greek aircraft was three nautical
miles. It appears that there is no basis for the Greek
claims and that they are not true.
End Statement.
3. (C) Comment: The TGS normally does not react to Greek
media claims about Turkish military flights in the Aegean,
but may have felt compelled to respond in this instance given
the extreme nature of the claim and the concerns we have
expressed regarding Turkish military flights elevating
tensions in the Aegean. End comment.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK
AIRLINER
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) The Turkish General Staff (TGS) posted a statement
(unoffical translation in para. 2) on September 2 refuting
Greek media claims that Turkish F-16s harassed a Greek
airliner in the Aegean on August 31.
2. (U) Begin unofficial translation of TGS statement:
Allegations from Greece have arisen that eight Turkish F-16s
had harassed Olympic Airlines Flight OAL-983 on August 31
while it was in international airspace flying at 14000 feet,
and that one Turkish fighter came within 100 feet of the
passenger airliner.
An investigation into this issue has found that the Turkish
aircraft were under radar control conducting training flights
at 6000 feet in international airspace in the Aegean.
It has been determined that the closest point that Turkish
aircraft came within the Greek aircraft was three nautical
miles. It appears that there is no basis for the Greek
claims and that they are not true.
End Statement.
3. (C) Comment: The TGS normally does not react to Greek
media claims about Turkish military flights in the Aegean,
but may have felt compelled to respond in this instance given
the extreme nature of the claim and the concerns we have
expressed regarding Turkish military flights elevating
tensions in the Aegean. End comment.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"