GREECE SHOWS THE WAY
by brother » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:28 pm
27 October 2004
Athens steps up air, sea violation charges against Ankara
* Greek Cypriots threat of veto and growing accusations of violations in the Aegean from Athens mar atmosphere ahead of Dec. 17 summit of EU
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ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Greece said yesterday it had protested at recent increases in airspace and territorial sea violations by the Turkish military, saying Ankara's behaviour could damage its drive to start European Union entry talks.
Less than two months before the EU votes on a European Commission recommendation to start accession talks with candidate Turkey, Athens said it would not "shut its eyes" to what it said were Turkish military violations in the past four days.
"There has been indeed an increase [of violations] and you know that such behaviour is not unknown," Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos told reporters in Athens. "We have made verbal complaints in Athens and Ankara."
Tension in Athens over alleged violations coincided with Greek Cypriot statements warnings of a veto at the Dec. 17 summit.
In Cyprus, a Greek Cypriot minister insisted yesterday that Turkey's bid to join the EU should be linked to a decades-old dispute on his Mediterranean island and left open the door for a possible veto on Ankara's beginning entry talks with Brussels, saying such a decision was up to the political leadership.
Defense Minister Kiriakos Mavronicolas also referred to accusations by Greece of violations in the Aegean and warned Turkey would find it difficult to get accepted into the European family as long as it continued with its current policy.
"Turkey's EU bid should be linked with a solution of the Cyprus problem," Mavronicolas was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. He said Turkey should diplomatically recognize the Greek Cypriot administration and "respect Cyprus as an EU member."
On Monday, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said his country could block Turkey's entry into the EU, although such a move was unlikely.
Withdrawing support?
EU leaders will decide in the Dec. 17 summit whether accession talks with Turkey should start. The Greek government has repeatedly said it supported Ankara's membership bid, but burgeoning accusations from Athens over Turkish airspace and territorial sea violations have marred the positive prospects.
On Monday, Greek newspapers widely reported that Athens was toughening its position after "provocations by Turkey in the Aegean" and said Greece was threatening to exercise its right of veto at the Dec. 17 summit.
Asked whether Athens, one of the strongest supporters of Turkey's bid to join the 25-nation bloc, would consider using a veto to block the start of talks at the Dec. 17, Koumoutsakos said: "No diplomatic action is missing from the Foreign Ministry. We choose the appropriate when deemed necessary."
"These incidents trouble us," Reuters news agency quoted Koumoutsakos as saying. "We do not shut our eyes and the incidents of the past days will be dealt with according to our plans as deemed necessary."
He said Greece had also informed both the EU and NATO of the violations. Both Greece and Turkey are members of the Alliance.
"I would like to remind you that the [European] Commission's report has a reference saying that the behaviour of Turkey with neighbouring states will be taken into consideration," said Koumoutsakos.
While the Greek Defence and Foreign Ministries have refused to issue details of the violations, press reports have said they include Turkish warships sailing in Greek waters off a disputed islet in the eastern Aegean and Turkish fighter jets flying low over Greek frigates just off the coast of Athens.
According to Greek media accounts, Turkish coast guard ships have violated Greek territorial waters four times in the last week in the Aegean. Ankara has denied the charges saying Turkish activity in the Aegean recently was no different to Turkey's "routine exercises" there.
Athens steps up air, sea violation charges against Ankara
* Greek Cypriots threat of veto and growing accusations of violations in the Aegean from Athens mar atmosphere ahead of Dec. 17 summit of EU
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Greece said yesterday it had protested at recent increases in airspace and territorial sea violations by the Turkish military, saying Ankara's behaviour could damage its drive to start European Union entry talks.
Less than two months before the EU votes on a European Commission recommendation to start accession talks with candidate Turkey, Athens said it would not "shut its eyes" to what it said were Turkish military violations in the past four days.
"There has been indeed an increase [of violations] and you know that such behaviour is not unknown," Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos told reporters in Athens. "We have made verbal complaints in Athens and Ankara."
Tension in Athens over alleged violations coincided with Greek Cypriot statements warnings of a veto at the Dec. 17 summit.
In Cyprus, a Greek Cypriot minister insisted yesterday that Turkey's bid to join the EU should be linked to a decades-old dispute on his Mediterranean island and left open the door for a possible veto on Ankara's beginning entry talks with Brussels, saying such a decision was up to the political leadership.
Defense Minister Kiriakos Mavronicolas also referred to accusations by Greece of violations in the Aegean and warned Turkey would find it difficult to get accepted into the European family as long as it continued with its current policy.
"Turkey's EU bid should be linked with a solution of the Cyprus problem," Mavronicolas was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. He said Turkey should diplomatically recognize the Greek Cypriot administration and "respect Cyprus as an EU member."
On Monday, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said his country could block Turkey's entry into the EU, although such a move was unlikely.
Withdrawing support?
EU leaders will decide in the Dec. 17 summit whether accession talks with Turkey should start. The Greek government has repeatedly said it supported Ankara's membership bid, but burgeoning accusations from Athens over Turkish airspace and territorial sea violations have marred the positive prospects.
On Monday, Greek newspapers widely reported that Athens was toughening its position after "provocations by Turkey in the Aegean" and said Greece was threatening to exercise its right of veto at the Dec. 17 summit.
Asked whether Athens, one of the strongest supporters of Turkey's bid to join the 25-nation bloc, would consider using a veto to block the start of talks at the Dec. 17, Koumoutsakos said: "No diplomatic action is missing from the Foreign Ministry. We choose the appropriate when deemed necessary."
"These incidents trouble us," Reuters news agency quoted Koumoutsakos as saying. "We do not shut our eyes and the incidents of the past days will be dealt with according to our plans as deemed necessary."
He said Greece had also informed both the EU and NATO of the violations. Both Greece and Turkey are members of the Alliance.
"I would like to remind you that the [European] Commission's report has a reference saying that the behaviour of Turkey with neighbouring states will be taken into consideration," said Koumoutsakos.
While the Greek Defence and Foreign Ministries have refused to issue details of the violations, press reports have said they include Turkish warships sailing in Greek waters off a disputed islet in the eastern Aegean and Turkish fighter jets flying low over Greek frigates just off the coast of Athens.
According to Greek media accounts, Turkish coast guard ships have violated Greek territorial waters four times in the last week in the Aegean. Ankara has denied the charges saying Turkish activity in the Aegean recently was no different to Turkey's "routine exercises" there.
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