In particular, NATO, as well as US, EU, UN and other allies were informed about the crescent of violation of international law on Wednesday, when Turkey committed 168 violations, of which 41 were overflights. The Prime Minister himself briefed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, while Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, after the double step, briefed the outgoing US Ambassador Jeffrey Payat.

As far as the field is concerned, Greece has activated the air defense in the Aegean islands, while the entire Armed Forces is in operational readiness.

Ankara responded to these moves by provoking further, as it accused Greece of “provocative flights and violations” and claims that it simply responded to them. He called on Athens to put an end to its “provocative actions”.

Activation of the air defense in the Aegean from Greece

After the barrage of overflights on Wednesday over the islands of the Eastern Aegean, GEETHA and the Ministry of Defense decided to take drastic measures to thwart Turkish provocations.

By order of the Chief of General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the anti-aircraft systems that are located are immediately activated. in the islands of the Eastern Aegeanaiming to detect air intruders and trap them by targeting them.

Activation has already started and so far there are no violations of the Athens FIR.

In addition, the Armed Forces have been put on full operational readiness, with continuous training activities throughout the Territory and constant vigilance of all Units. The Navy has on a daily basis at least 20 surface units and submarines deployed in the Archipelago, the Army is on “alert”, while the Air Force intercepts Turkish fighters with brief procedures.

In addition, following her allied cooperation with FranceThe frigate “ADRIAS” will participate in an exercise with a French frigate west of Crete, while on Friday (29/04) the same surface unit of the Navy will participate in exercises with an American ship detached from the force of the aircraft carrier “HARRY TRUMAN”.

Mitsotakis in Stoltenberg: Turkey undermines NATO unity

Early today, Thursday, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis briefed Jens Stoltenberg on the Turkish provocation.

As Mr. Mitsotakis said during his joint press conference with the Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin, informed the secretary general NATO for the latest challenges of Turkey with overflights over Greek islands.

“I also had the opportunity to inform Sana about the proposals with Turkey. It must be that I previously spoke with the Secretary General. “NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg to inform him about the recent provocative behavior of the Turkish Armed Forces, which violated the national unity and made characteristically dangerous jumps over islands such as Chios, Karpathos, Leros and many more,” said Mr. . Mitsotakis.

And he added:

“And of course I made it clear to Mr Stoltenberg that this kind of behavior by a NATO ally is completely unacceptable, undermines European security and the unity of NATO’s goal at a time when all Member States need to stay. of NATO, as we do not face. Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine. “

The prime minister also stressed that such actions also undermine the progress made during his recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We will continue to raise the issue in all international fora. And let me remind you that Turkey has not complied with the sanctions imposed by the EU. and all other NATO member states. “And this is not behavior that characterizes the country that wants to join the European family.”

“Freeze” of the MOE and a new protest

Government sources typically said at noon that confidence-building measures with Turkey “Are postponed for the future” while a little while later the second step of Athens became known.

More specifically, by order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, the Secretary General of the Ministry Themistocles Demiris On Thursday afternoon, a new and very intense protest took place in the Turkish Ambassador regarding the unprecedented number of violations of the Greek interior and overflights of Greek territory, including several residential areas, which took place in one day.

The Secretary General stressed that continuing Turkish provocative and delinquent behavior, which violates Greek sovereignty, is completely condemnable and unacceptable.

Economou: Unacceptable challenge

In the same line and the statements of the government representative Giannis Oikonomou, who during the regular briefing of the political authors said that the Turkish actions in the Aegean are “unacceptable»And constitute infringement of territorial sovereignty.

In fact, he spoke of “unacceptable challengeWhich does not go unanswered either at the diplomatic level or in the field.

These actions, as he said, are not in line with its spirit or its content recent meeting of the Prime Minister with the Turkish President.

In fact, indirectly confirming the government sources who spoke about the time shift of the MOE, Mr. Economou said it is “absolutely clear»That under these circumstances the climate is not suitable for these meetings to take place.

Turkish Foreign Minister: Greece to stop provocative actions

Responding to the double step of Greece and the diplomatic moves of Athens, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that it is the Greek side that is provoking and should stop the provocative actions. Ankara did not accuse Athens of “provocative flights and violations” to which Turkey responded.

Specifically, the representative of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Tanju Bilgitsstated:

“The statements of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the events between the air forces of the two countries in the Aegean they do not reflect reality. “

“THE Greek Air Force carried out provocative flights near the coasts of our country between 26-28 April 2022, repeatedly violating the interior of our country in Didyma, Dacha and the Dalaman area. “Our air force responded to these provocative flights and violations in accordance with the rules of engagement,” said a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

“While Greece is the side that started and escalated the volumeto accuse our country of baseless allegations has nothing to do with the recent positive agenda and good neighborly relations between the two countries. “

“We expect from Greek side to put an end to provocative actions and in its rhetoric and to sincerely support the process of Confidence Building Measures that started both bilaterally and within NATO, so that such incidents do not happen again “he points out and concludes:

“There is no change in Turkey’s attitude towards resolving all the problems of the Aegean, including the wider interior, in the context of a honest dialogue with Greece in accordance with international law».

Crescendo of violations in the Aegean

It is reminded that the Turkey proceeded on Wednesday to 168 violations with 41 of them being overflights over large Greek islands.

Her reaction Athens was immediate and strong.

After the strong step to the Turkish ambassador in Athens, Greece also canceled the invitation to the Turkish Air Force to exercise Tiger Meet.

Specifically, after an extraordinary meeting at the Greek “Pentagon” under the Chief of GEETHA, General Konstantinos FlorosIt was decided, among other things, to cancel the invitation that Turkey had received to take part in the NATO exercise Tiger Meet, which this year is hosted by the 335th “Tigers” Squadron.

THE Tiger Meet is the exercise in which they participate those Degrees bearing the name “Tigers”with exercise being considered – rightly – one of the most demanding in the world.

Earlier, intense protest action Greece presented to the Turkish ambassador regarding the overflights over Greek territory including residential areas.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, The Secretary General of the Ministry, Themistoklis Demiris, recently made a strong protest to the Turkish Ambassador.

The Secretary-General emphasized that these actions constitute violation of Greek sovereignty, recommend unacceptable challenge and are contrary to fundamental principles of international law.

The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states in detail the following:

“Following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Themistoklis Demiris, recently made a strong protest to the Turkish Ambassador regarding the current overflights of Greek territory, including the residential areas, by the Turkish fighters “.

“The Secretary-General emphasized that these actions constitute violation of Greek sovereigntyare an unacceptable challenge and run counter to fundamental principles of international law. “

“He also stressed that the actions, in addition to being illegal and provocative, endanger international traffic, completely violate the principle of good neighborly relations between the two countries and undermine efforts to consolidate a climate of trust.”