Turkish Warship Passes Greek Islands

 

By Christina Flora


Greek waters around four Greek islands were violated on March 19 by the Turkish corvette Bafra, which reportedly passed between Euboea and Andros in Cavo D’oro, Greek military officials said.
The Turkish warship, which came from Izmir’s port, hit the Greek territorial sea on March 19 and passed though a southwest route passed through the islands of Kea and Kythnos. After two hours of roaming, it left Greek waters south of Kea, Greek military officials said.

According to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, “Navy ships and Hellenic Air Force aircrafts are monitoring the warship throughout the duration of its navigation.” On Feb. 20, the Turkish corvette Bozcaada also violated the Greek territorial sea  around the area of Mykonos and Naxos.

The Aegean dispute is a set of interrelated controversial issues between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty and related rights in the area of the Aegean Sea. This set of conflicts has had a large effect on Greek-Turkish relations since the 1970s. It has twice led to crises coming close to the outbreak of military hostilities, in 1987 and in early 1996.

Turkish ships regularly violate Greek territory and are trailed by Greek vessels but not stopped. In the Aegean the territorial waters claimed by both sides are still at six miles but the possibility of an extension to 12 miles has fueled Turkish concerns over a possible disproportionate increase in Greek-controlled space.
Turkey does not recognize the international Law of the Sea and has argued that that the special geographical properties of the Aegean mean a 12-mile limit would be unfair to its interests.