Nikitas wrote:NAVTEX is the marine equivalen of an aviation NOTAM notice to airmen. Through this ploy Turkey has unilaterally assumed anti terror patrols in the whole of the Aegean since February. It was a cynical and insulting move against her neighbors, not only Greece but also Syria is affected. By this ploy the Turkish navy is patrolling close to the shores of these countries "looking for terrorist" and conceivably Turkish ships can stop and ask a Greek passenger ferry moving between Greek ports to stop and be searched.
A parliamentary question re the NAVTEX was tabled in the Greek parliament last week, not by the right wing, but by the Eurocommunist party which is the most critical of military spending and the military in general. The move shows how even the traditionally pro detente left is reacting.
I suppose you mean Navigational Warning 394 here: http://www.shodb.gov.tr/duyurular/DUYURULAR(ENG).htm
Although in the Eastern Mediterranean, not Aegean, it only requests cooperation and assistance in answering questions and advises giving a wide berth to naval vessels, probably in case they are carrying out some exercise which might be dangerous to another ship or the naval people carrying out the exercise.
I suppose it’s just possible that a Turkish naval vessel might stop and search a Greek ferry. It’s also possible that the Prime Minister of Greece might play an accordion on the Acropolis with a hat in front of him to collect money for the Greek debt, but I don’t think either event are very likely.
