Imia/Kardak

The Greek political system and state apparatus have supposedly learned a lot from the 1996 Imia crisis, when Greece and Turkey came to the brink of armed conflict over the uninhabited Aegean islets.

Yigit Bulut, a close advisor to Turkish President chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a new challenge to Greece, inviting the country to test Turkey's determination.

"We challenge Greece to set foot on Imia. If that happens we will defend [the islets] to the death from the moment that Erdogan gives the order," Bulut said.

Footage revealed by Kathimerini shows the moment when the Turkish patrol boat Umut rammed the Greek Coast Guard vessel 090 Gavdos off the islets of Imia late on Monday.

Although the incident did not result in any injuries, it served to illustrate rising tensions over the islets which were the focus of dispute that brought Greece and Turkey close to war in 1996.

Despite the government's position that Greece must avoid a clash and seek an outlet through diplomatic channels,  Athens has toughened its rhetoric toward Turkey, with government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos warning on Friday that Greece will respond to any further acts of aggression.

Despite the government's position that Greece must avoid a clash and seek an outlet through diplomatic channels,  Athens has toughened its rhetoric toward Turkey, with government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos warning on Friday that Greece will respond to any further acts of aggression.

Greece ponders seeking compensation from Turkey for the coast guard vessel a Turkish ship rammed off Imia island on Monday, said Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias late on Thursday.

Athens toughened up its stance on Turkish action in the eastern Aegean, with the foreign minister and the government spokesman making it clear to Ankara that Greece's response to another incident will not be peaceful.

Government Spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos has warned Turkey that Greece will respond to any further acts of aggression.

"If there is another act of Turkish aggression on Greek territory, there will be a response and there is no other way for us," he told Skai TV on Friday morning.

The situation around the Imia islets was stable on Thursday following an escalation in tensions on Monday night after a Turkish vessel rammed a Hellenic Coast Guard boat.

However, despite the agreement between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim to de-escalate tension, Turkish forces remained in the vicinity on Thursday.

Turkey has started to build a watchtower and a pier on Çavuş Adası, an island in the Aegean Sea, only one mile away from the Kardak islets, which Turkey and Greece nearly went to war over in 1996.