Greek–Turkish relations

16 people drowned off the coast of the Greek island of Lesvos, on the morning of Monday, when a refugee boat sank under unclear circumstances. A Swedish Frontex vessel initially spotted five bodies floating on the Aegean Sea, with 11 more bodies discovered as search and reduce operations of both Greek and Turkish coastguards were in full flight.

I could not help but notice that several of our readers commented on my article last week about this year's Easter celebration in Phanar, Istanbul. Some confirmed their sadness at the low attendance of the faithful for the most important date in the Orthodox calendar.

In the latest incident of Turkish provocation against Greece, a coastal radar in western Turkey demanded a Greek military helicopter carrying the commander of the Higher Military Domestic and Island Command (ASDEN), general Nikos Manolakos over the island of Panagia to disrupt its course.

Turkey is continuing its belligerent stance towards Greece, as two more Turkish F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter violated Greek airspace on five occasions. The Turkish aircraft were armed during their flights into Greek airspace and two engaged in dogfights with Greek F-16 fighters. Two infringements of the Athens FIR were also recorded on Thursday.

As Turkey enters the last phase before its crucial referendum, its next-door neighbor is getting more nervous.

What will Turkey be like after the referendum if the results adorn President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with executive powers or what will change if the electorate does not approve the constitutional amendments? Will Turkey be calmer or more agitated?

Greek and Turkish fighter jets engaged in dogfights over the Aegean Sea, when a pair of Turkish F-16 jets violated Greek airspace on Friday. A total of 6 violations were recorded, 5 of which were flights over the Greek island of Panagia at 10.44am. Greek jets scrambled and intercepted the intruders, four of which were armed. There were also three infringements of the Athens FIR.

During a visit to Istanbul a few years ago, I met with a Western diplomat who at the time held a post in Turkey. After talking about Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem, our conversation turned to political and economic developments in Turkey.

Turkish fighter jets violated Greek national air space in the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean on Monday.

According to Greek military authorities, a formation of two Turkish jets entered the Athens Flight Information Region while a CN-235 transport plane violated Greek national air space a total of 16 times.

The war of words between Ankara and Western Europe during the past weeks has shifted our attention from another longer war of words: that between Ankara and Athens, with its latest phase having started with the case of the eight Turkish officers accused of taking part in the attempted coup of July 15, 2016, who escaped to Greece. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on all Turkish expats residing in Europe to have more children in response to the “segregation” they are facing across the continent.