Turkey marks 1922 victory over Greece amid east Med tensions

·

Turkey marked the 98th anniversary of the War of Independence battle against Greek forces on Sunday, as the threat of a new conflict with Athens looms in the eastern Mediterranean.

“Turkey’s struggle for independence and future continues today as well,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a message to commemorate Victory Day.

“It is absolutely not a coincidence that those who seek to exclude us from the eastern Mediterranean are the same invaders as the ones who attempted to invade our homeland a century ago.”

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, center, visits the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Photo: Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool.

In recent weeks, Turkish and Greek forces have engaged in a series of cat-and-mouse military exercises in the seas between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete. The confrontation was sparked when Turkey sent a research vessel accompanied by warships to search for gas and oil reserves.

READ MORE: Turkey flexes military muscle near Kastellorizo as Greece calls the move ‘illegal.’

Greece, a member of the European Union, claims the waters are part of its continental shelf and has enlisted the support of the 27-nation bloc, which has condemned Turkey’s “illegal activities” and warned of potential sanctions against Ankara.

Turkey says Greece and others are denying its rights to explore for energy resources in the Mediterranean.

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, center, is flanked by Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop, left, and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Photo: Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool.

Greece and Cyprus have recently been joined by France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates in carrying out naval and aerial war games in the region.

On Saturday, Turkey began its own military maneuvers until September 11 off its southern coast. Turkey’s Defense Ministry also released cockpit footage of what it said were Turkish jets in mock dogfights with Greek F-16s between Crete and Cyprus.

“No one should have any doubts about our resolve in this matter and our unshakeable belief in victory,” Erdogan said.

In an interview with broadcaster AHaber on Saturday, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Greece extending its territorial waters from six to 12 nautical miles would be a “cause for war.” Earlier this week, Athens announced plans to extend its maritime border with Italy to 12 nautical miles.

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, second left, follows a military honour guard during a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Photo: Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool.

READ MORE: Greece to extend territorial waters in the Ionian Sea, says PM.

Erdogan laid a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara later Sunday. Ataturk led the Turkish troops in the independence struggle following World War I and went on to establish modern Turkey.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis on Sunday told a crowd in Rome that he was “following with worry” the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

The pontiff did not name a specific country but appealed for “constructive dialogue and respect for international law to resolve the conflicts that threaten the peace of the peoples of that region.”

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, right, and a foreign ambassador greet each other during a ceremony at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Photo: Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool.

In other commemorations, Turkish troops marched through Ankara, the capital, while people in Istanbul waved flags from cars in an impromptu procession. Turkish warships will visit 20 ports around Turkey and northern Cyprus for sunset flag ceremonies.

Events to mark the 1922 battle of Dumlupinar, which saw Turkish forces overwhelm Greek troops in western Anatolia, have been muted due to coronavirus measures.

This has led to claims that Erdogan’s Islamic-orientated government is attempting to downplay the achievements of Ataturk’s secular regime.

Source: AP News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Archbishop Makarios of Australia joins global outcry over deadly church bombing in Syria

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has condemned the suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elijah in Damascus, Syria.

State of emergency declared as wildfires ravage Chios for second day

Wildfires continued to ravage Chios for a second consecutive day, prompting mass evacuations and the declaration of a state of emergency.

Trump claims Israel and Iran agree to ‘complete and total’ ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has announced what he described as a “Complete and Total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

Qantas diverts flights as Qatar reopens airspace following Iranian strike on US base

Qantas has been forced to divert and turn back multiple long-haul flights due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Mytilenians strike gold at first-ever Hellenic Bowling Cup in Sydney

The inaugural Hellenic Bowling Cup rolled into action over the weekend, bringing together Samians, Kytherians, and Mytilenians in Sydney.

You May Also Like

Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris slams plan to build homes on toxic former quarry site

Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris has slammed a controversial proposal to build 1,100 homes on a contaminated former mine in Melbourne’s south-east.

Greek American family found dead on Father’s Day in suspected murder-suicide

A husband, wife and two children were fatally shot on Father’s Day in what investigators are probing as a murder-suicide.

Greek and Italian Prime Ministers meet to discuss tensions with Turkey, energy crisis

Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, met with newly elected Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Brussels on Thursday.