New Greek Defence Minister Resurrects Old Tensions with Turkey

[Hakan]

New Greek nationalist defence minister resurrects old tensions with Turkey
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Greece’s new nationalist defence minister has prompted Turkey to scramble fighter jets just days after taking office by taking a helicopter trip over the uninhabited islets off the Turkish coast that nearly triggered a war in 1996.

Turkish jets entered Greek airspace and were intercepted by Greek jets as the defence minister, Panos Kammenos, and military chiefs flew by helicopter to the islet of Imia to drop wreaths in memory of three Greek officers killed nearby in a helicopter crash 19 years ago, the Greek defence ministry said.

Kammenos heads the small, right-wing, Eurosceptical Independent Greeks party, and the episode underlines the risk that its unlikely coalition with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s left-wing Syriza party, winner of last week’s election, will come under strain on issues not related to their shared desire to end Greece’s austerity programme.

Imia, known in Turkish as Kardak, lies just seven km (four miles) off the Turkish coast. Greece and Turkey, both members of Nato, have long disputed its sovereignty and, in 1996, came close to war over the islets.

“The reason the defence minister went there was to show his patriotism and to honour those who died there,” an Independent Greeks party spokeswoman, Marina Chysoveloni, said. “No one had ever done this in the last 19 years.“

Ankara did not confirm its aircraft had entered Greek airspace. “All the necessary precautions were taken by our side but, as our airspace has not been violated, there is no need for a reaction,” a foreign ministry official said.

Although they share opposition to the terms of Greece’s bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, Syriza and the Independent Greeks stand far apart on issues ranging from religion to questions of national identity.

In an interview with the Turkish newspaper Sabah, Tsipras said he wanted to develop closer cooperation with Turkey.

He is also due on Monday to visit the island of Cyprus, ethnically divided since Turkey invaded the north in 1974 in response to a brief, Greek-inspired nationalist coup.

Greece irritated some of its EU partners this week by telegraphing its ambivalence about imposing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, before eventually smoothing ruffled feathers.

New Greek nationalist defence minister resurrects old tensions with Turkey | World news | The Guardian

 

[madmusti]

Those new Greek Parliament is only a Game of the ones who have ruined Greece !

They will make them for their mistakes to the "scapegoats" and will return as Heroes with EU on their back again.

But that Patriots should be quiet , we all know what Greece have done , who are leading at their Time Turkey and who has supported Organizations against Turkey or Terror Groups.

 

[Oublious]

History is repeating itself. Whem people starve then it starts war.

 

[madmusti]

History is repeating itself. Whem people starve then it starts war.

Until this SOM will be Ready

 

[Paksanity]

But is Greek in any position to show hostilities at this point of time??

 

[KemalPasa]

But is Greek in any position to show hostilities at this point of time??

Desperate people does desperate things. I don't think they want to go to war but you never know. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Hakan]

If greece went to war with Turkey some banks would have no problem giving them loans. They do damage to Turkey & bring turkeys economy down (now turkey needs loans) and greece needs loans to rebuild itself and fund the war.

 

[Nefer]

If greece went to war with Turkey some banks would have no problem giving them loans. They do damage to Turkey & bring turkeys economy down (now turkey needs loans) and greece needs loans to rebuild itself and fund the war.

How much of our industry and agriculture are in the 100km of the western border ?

 

[Serpentine]

If greece went to war with Turkey some banks would have no problem giving them loans. They do damage to Turkey & bring turkeys economy down (now turkey needs loans) and greece needs loans to rebuild itself and fund the war.

No war will happen, you can all relax.

 

[Nefer]

No war will happen, you can all relax.

Nothing is certain in life always prepare for the unexpected/unlikely

 

[Timur]

the old self destructive greeks are back

now they can ruin their country compleatly

 

[Tshering22]

Pardon me for my limited knowledge, but isn't Greece got a Far Left government? Leftists usually suck up to those whom others in their country consider as national enemies... Have no idea about Greece's political scenario though.

Shouldn't a Leftist government in Greece be good for Turkey's overall power?

 

[anatolia]

Pardon me for my limited knowledge, but isn't Greece got a Far Left government? Leftists usually suck up to those whom others in their country consider as national enemies... Have no idea about Greece's political scenario though.

Shouldn't a Leftist government in Greece be good for Turkey's overall power?

leftist rightist eastist westist or northist what ever it isdoes not matter they are still greek

 

[Tshering22]

leftist rightist eastist westist or northist what ever it isdoes not matter they are still greek

They should focus on strengthening their economy. This is going to get them nowhere.Their military will remain Germany's pawns till they clear their dues.

 

[anatolia]

They should focus on strengthening their economy. This is going to get them nowhere.Their military will remain Germany's pawns till they clear their dues.

idont care greece man.it is not one of our problems... they would cry to find more cash from eu or russia..like they do before..