Turkey denies deliberately holding Greek plane in the air

·

Turkey on Thursday denied accusations by Greece that Ankara refused an overflight permit to a plane carrying Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, forcing the aircraft to remain in the air for 20 minutes.

Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that the plane carrying Dendias back from a visit to Baghdad the previous day was kept circling over Mosul for 20 minutes because Turkish authorities weren’t granting it permission to fly through Turkish airspace back to Greece.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry denied any deliberate move to hold up the plane before entering the Turkish airspace, insisting the plane hadn’t provided the required flight plan.

Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas, right, and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias attend a meeting with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The incident comes amid renewed tensions between Greece and Turkey over sea boundaries and energy drilling rights, after Ankara redeployed its search vessel, Oruc Reis, this week for a new energy exploration mission in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

Both countries have this week accused each other of engaging in “provocations” that threaten to torpedo the planned resumption of talks between Athens and Ankara aimed at resolving disputes. Those talks were last held in 2016.

According to the Turkish ministry, the plane that took Dendias to Iraq broke down there, and the Greek government then allocated a second plane, which took off without the required flight plan.

“When the aforementioned aircraft arrived at our airspace, the plan was urgently requested from the Iraqi authorities, and after the plan was received, the flight was carried out safely,” the ministry said.

Asked about the incident during a regular briefing, the Greek government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said that in response that “the necessary actions have been taken by the foreign ministry, with a relevant complaint.”

“It is one more provocation, in the continued provocations by the Turkish side,” Petsas said. “But I would like to remain on the fact that various explanations were given, also from the Turkish side, and we hope that this phenomenon and this incident is never repeated in the future.”

Sourced By: Associated Press

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

AHEPA Sydney & NSW marks OXI Day with tribute to Greece’s heroes of 1940

On Wednesday, October 29, AHEPA Sydney & NSW Inc proudly held a commemorative event in honour of OXI Day. Read more here.

Dean Kalymniou on Gough Whitlam and the 50-year legacy of the Racial Discrimination Act

Dean Kalymniou reflects on Whitlam’s legacy and 50 years of the Racial Discrimination Act - a milestone in Australia’s pursuit of justice.

Konstantinos Argiros meets NSW Premier after sold-out Opera House performances

At NSW Parliament on Friday, Premier Chris Minns and Ministers Courtney Houssos and Sophie Cotsis welcomed Konstantinos Argiros.

‘Love, care and respect’: Chris and Nikolitsa Bakopoulos share the key to 70 years of marriage

From Patras to Bexley, Chris and Nikolitsa Bakopoulos’ 70-year love story is a timeless testament to faith, resilience, and devotion.

Accused Easey St killer Perry Kouroumblis previously gave police an alibi, court hears

Accused Easey Street killer Perry Kouroumblis has told police he was with a friend on the night two women were brutally stabbed in 1977.

You May Also Like

Wedding industry operators plead for restriction lift as couples frustrated with ‘double standards’

“It’s not necessary considering when there’s scenes of 25,000-30,000 people at footy games lining up like sardines outside."

Stefanie Costi: Fighting for a future free of workplace bullying

Stefanie Costi is a 34-year-old lawyer, speaker, and writer, but above all, she is an advocate for workplace safety and inclusion.

Dan Andrews claims victory in Victorian election as Labor government reelected

The Labor party has secured a third term in government with Premier Daniel Andrews declaring victory for the politcal party.