Ankara jabs at Greek President Pavlopoulos as tensions rise

Turkey's stance regarding the fate of the two Greek soldiers who were arrested last week after straying into Turkey and a war of words that erupted with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos is seen in Greece as indicative of Ankara's intention to raise the stakes with Athens.

The deterioration of Greek-Turkish relations also appears to have raised concerns in Washington, with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wes Mitchell scheduled to visit Athens and Nicosia next week, but not Ankara.

Moreover, the chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, received US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt in his Athens office on Wednesday but details of their discussion were not disclosed.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim gave no sign that Ankara is seeking a swift resolution...