Turkiye rejects Greek allegations of illegal overflights

ISTANBUL

Turkiye on Thursday rejected allegations by Greece of airspace violations and overflights in the Aegean Sea.

“The statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece concerning the incidents that took place between the air forces of the two countries in the Aegean Sea on 27 April 2022 do not reflect the truth,” Tanju Bilgic, the spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said in a written statement.

Bilgic noted that from April 26-28, the Greek Air Force conducted provocative flights in close proximity of the Turkish coast and repeatedly violated Turkish airspace over the southwestern towns of Didim, Datca and Dalaman.

“The Turkish Air Force reciprocated to these provocative flights and violations in accordance with their rules of engagement. Given that Greece was the party that started and escalated the said tension, making unfounded allegations against Turkiye is totally incompatible with the recent positive agenda and good neighborly relations between the two countries,” he said.

Turkiye expects the Greek side to put an end to its provocative rhetoric and actions and to sincerely support the Confidence Building Measures process initiated both bilaterally and within NATO so that such incidents do not recur in the future, said Bilgic.

“There is no change in Turkiye's position towards the settlement of all Aegean disputes, including the breadth of airspace, in accordance with international law and within a framework of sincere dialogue with Greece,” he added.