Cyprus-Forum.com

[Cap]

According to Yilmaz, who served as premier three times in the 1990s, agents of the T**kish secret service set fire to Greek forests during the leadership of his archrival Tansu Ciller, from 1995 to 1998. During that period major forest fires caused huge damage on the islands of the eastern Aegean and in Macedonia.

http://www.emg.rs/en/news/region/171665.html

[GreekIslandGirl]

Usual practices by our provocative, deranged neighbors. Sadly, those fires were not the last, I'm sure. One day they will also admit to being behind the most recent fires - which coincided with their huge tourism advertising drive to pull tourists away from visiting Greece and going instead to Turkey.



"In an interview with Turkish daily “Birgun”, the Turkish former premier referred to a state report on the arsons, implying a possible retaliation for the Greek stance of the Kurdish issue.

Greece suffers from many catastrophic forest fires every summer that are linked to arsonists in many cases. In the past Greek secret services pointed to the neighbor NATO ally and arch-rival Turkey for some forest fires, but there was no tangible evidence to support the claim."

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/12 ... est-fires/

[Hermes]

After the admission comes the inevitable claim that he was "misquoted". Now it turns out he meant the opposite of what was reported: he meant to say that it was the Greek secret service who were suspected of burning Turkish forests!

http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=hab ... leID=83496

These people are such fools!

[GreekIslandGirl]

Here's an archive on the matter ...

Turkish deputy reveals: ‘Grey Wolves’ are behind arson fires in Greece

Arm the Spirit, 1 December 1996

A Turkish deputy from Tansu Ciller's True Path Party (DYP) yesterday revealed that Turkish paramilitary organizations are responsible for arson fires in Greece's islands while, at the same time, an article published in the pro-government Turkish daily "Yeni Safak" provocatively boasted in its title: "We Burned Rhodes."

According to the DYP deputy Sedat Bucak, the perpetrator of these fires was Abdullah Chatli, the leader of the extremist group "Grey Wolves". Chatli was recently killed in a notorious car accident in Turkey which brought to light the relations between Turkish mafia and the government.

These revelations came to confirm reports the Greek authorities already had in their hands, according to which, the fires that have devastated the Greek islands every summer were an act of arson performed by specially-trained forces of Turkish agents.

Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that the Turkish deputy's statements are "especially worrisome and show that various sabotage raids have been committed in our country with Turkish instigation."

Moreover, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that these disclosures by themselves constitute a criminal act which, in conjuction with Ms. Ciller's statements ("it is an honor for those who shoot for Turkey"), should trouble the international community.

Before proceeding to the necessary actions, the Greek Government awaits the immediate probe and reaction on behalf of the Turkish government, which, according to Mr. Papandreou, bears the essential responsibility.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Of course, old habits die hard. No neighbour is safe from Turkish deathly blows ...

GfbV: Turkish army destroys the last forests in Kurdistan
Nivîskar: rizgarionline Di: 01.08.2008 Sehet: 14:18
Ji aliyê rizgarionline

Society for Threatened Peoples/ Turkish army destroys the last forests in Kurdistan. The Turkish army is destroying the last forests in Kurdistan . In order to combat the rebels of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) the few still existing forest and bush areas in south-east Turkey, the home of approximately 15 million Kurds, are according to information from the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) being intentionally set alight or shot at with fire-bombs

When the local farmers and shepherds try with the means at their disposal to put out the fires they are hindered by Turkish security forces. Last Sunday about 15,000 Kurds protested against the intentional arson in the town of Cizre .

In previous years also the Turkish a rmy has regularly caused forest fires in the Kurdish hills, reported the GfbV General Secretary, Tilman Zülch on Monday. “However this strategy against the PKK has not been
successful. On the contrary, these draconian destructive measures have only increased sympathy for the rebel movement among the people.”

In the past few days forests and bush areas have according to information from the GfbV been burning in the following regions:

On 26th July 2008 in the triangle Turkey/Iran/Iraq
on 22nd July 2008 in Elazig
on 20th July 2008 in the province of Hakkari
on 19th July 2008 in the province of Siirt
on 18th July 2008 in the province of Van
on 15th July 2008 in the province of Diyarbakir
on 13th July 2008 in the province of Mardin
on 8th, 9th and 11th July in the province of Diyarbakir

Göttingen, 28.07.2008

http://www.rizgari.com/modules.php?name ... &sid=14670

[Hermes]

What is needed is an independent and transparent investigation into these allegations and punishment of those responsible. Turkey should also compensate Greece for the damage caused. No pathetic denials. These are serious allegations. I'm glad the Greeks are taking this seriously:

“The Turks have to respond without delay about a criminal act against another country,” honorary Greek ambassador Christos Zacharakis told Skai TV. “This was an act of blind hate and revenge that is not alien to the Turkish mentality.”

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_ar ... 011_420052

[Get Real!]

Unless the Greek authorities have arrested the perpetrators and traced them right back to Ankara, they haven’t got a case. It’s as simple as that…

[Hermes]

Unless the Greek authorities have arrested the perpetrators and traced them right back to Ankara, they haven’t got a case. It’s as simple as that…

Turkey should investigate the allegations. Not Greece. I thought that was obvious!

[Get Real!]

Unless the Greek authorities have arrested the perpetrators and traced them right back to Ankara, they haven’t got a case. It’s as simple as that…

Turkey should investigate the allegations. Not Greece. I thought that was obvious!

You must be a tad naïve…

[Hermes]

You must be a tad naïve…

I'm merely re-stating what some Turkish commentators are demanding:

Turkish deep state and Greek forest fires

On the Turkish side, I hope that Turkey can carry out an independent and transparent investigation into these allegations, which could lead to the punishment of all those responsible for these attacks. The country should also compensate any Greek losses...

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-26 ... fires.html?