Athens angrily reacted on Wednesday to the latest barrage of Turkish air force overflights of several eastern Aegean islands and islets, violations that Greek sources chargehave increased over the recent period.
A demarche was handed to Turkey’s ambassador in Athens the same day, with the Greek protest citing flights of Turkish warplanes even over populated islands.
Greek foreign ministry officials said such actions comprise a violation of national sovereignty and are an unacceptable provocation, as well as in opposition to fundamental principles of international law.
Athens also referred to a danger posed to civil aviation and an utter undermining of efforts to create a bilateral climate of trust and cooperation.
Violations of Greek airspace and infringements of Athens FIR regulations were recorded in the late morning on Wednesday until just after noon, with at least two pairs of Turkish F-16 flying at above 21,000 feet in the central portion of the extreme eastern Aegean, including over the southeast tip of large Samos island.
Turkish overflights continue after demarche
A pair of Turkish F-16 flew conducted new unauthorized flights over the eastern Aegean on Wednesday, even after Greece filed a demarche with the Turkish ambassador in Athens over repeated violations of Greek airspace by Turkish fighter jets.
The two jets flew over the islets of Lipsi at 27,000 feet and over Arkii at 14,000 feet.
Earlier, a total of 11 overflights took place between 10.18 a.m. and 10.43 a.m. The fighter jets flew over Arkioi, Lips, Agathonissi, Samos, Fournoi and Oinousses.