Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS18
2009-01-07 16:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREEK PRESIDENT AND FM CONDEMN TURKISH ACTIONS IN
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UNCLAS ATHENS 000018
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPSGRPARM PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: GREEK PRESIDENT AND FM CONDEMN TURKISH ACTIONS IN
THE AEGEAN
1 (SBU) On January 6, Greek President Karolos Papoulias
attended Epiphany day celebrations on the small Greek island
of Agathonisi off the coast of Turkey and accused the Turkish
military of being "at the nucleus" of tense relations between
Greece and Turkey. In recent weeks Agathonisi and its
neighbor, Pharmakonisi, have been overflown at least twice by
Turkish fighter jets according to press reports. The same
reports added that Turkish military air controllers had
warned Greek army helicopters approaching at the two islands
to stop "intruding into Turkish air space" and leave the area
"immediately" or be intercepted. One of the helicopters was
carrying the Greek Armed Forces Chief and the Chief of the
Army.
2. (SBU) After attending mass, the president addressed a
stern message to Turkey. "The Turkish army's key role in
(formulating) policy in the neighboring country is at the
nucleus of the problem in Greek-Turkish relations," said
Papoulias, who also accused Turkey of making territorial
claims and launching "incomprehensible and irrational"
provocation through "systematic flights of military aircraft
over Greek islands." Bilateral relations, Papoulias
stressed, could not improve except by "strictly" observing
international law. The Papoulias trip was widely reported in
the Greek press as the "proper and resounding answer" to
Turish claims and the activities of the Turkish Ai Force
over the Aegean.
3. (SBU) On Januay 7, the press reported that two Turkish
F-16s overflew Pharmakonisi and intercepted a Greek SAR
helicopter searching for a reported 15 illegal immigrants in
a boat. At the same time, a Turkish Coast Guard fast craft
interfered with a Greek search vessel. Greek Foreign
Minister, Dora Bakoyannis, responded with a public statement:
"The Turkish actions in the Pharmakonisi-Agathonisi area are
unacceptable. They are in blatant violation of international
law and hamper the efforts being made to improve
Greek-Turkish relations. I have instructed that the
appropriate demarches be made." FM Bakoyannis comment to
Ambassador Speckhard on this incident reported Septel.
SPECKHARD
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPSGRPARM PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: GREEK PRESIDENT AND FM CONDEMN TURKISH ACTIONS IN
THE AEGEAN
1 (SBU) On January 6, Greek President Karolos Papoulias
attended Epiphany day celebrations on the small Greek island
of Agathonisi off the coast of Turkey and accused the Turkish
military of being "at the nucleus" of tense relations between
Greece and Turkey. In recent weeks Agathonisi and its
neighbor, Pharmakonisi, have been overflown at least twice by
Turkish fighter jets according to press reports. The same
reports added that Turkish military air controllers had
warned Greek army helicopters approaching at the two islands
to stop "intruding into Turkish air space" and leave the area
"immediately" or be intercepted. One of the helicopters was
carrying the Greek Armed Forces Chief and the Chief of the
Army.
2. (SBU) After attending mass, the president addressed a
stern message to Turkey. "The Turkish army's key role in
(formulating) policy in the neighboring country is at the
nucleus of the problem in Greek-Turkish relations," said
Papoulias, who also accused Turkey of making territorial
claims and launching "incomprehensible and irrational"
provocation through "systematic flights of military aircraft
over Greek islands." Bilateral relations, Papoulias
stressed, could not improve except by "strictly" observing
international law. The Papoulias trip was widely reported in
the Greek press as the "proper and resounding answer" to
Turish claims and the activities of the Turkish Ai Force
over the Aegean.
3. (SBU) On Januay 7, the press reported that two Turkish
F-16s overflew Pharmakonisi and intercepted a Greek SAR
helicopter searching for a reported 15 illegal immigrants in
a boat. At the same time, a Turkish Coast Guard fast craft
interfered with a Greek search vessel. Greek Foreign
Minister, Dora Bakoyannis, responded with a public statement:
"The Turkish actions in the Pharmakonisi-Agathonisi area are
unacceptable. They are in blatant violation of international
law and hamper the efforts being made to improve
Greek-Turkish relations. I have instructed that the
appropriate demarches be made." FM Bakoyannis comment to
Ambassador Speckhard on this incident reported Septel.
SPECKHARD