NATO strong with Türkiye, Greece has no value in alliance

Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months.

President Erdogan says Greece's negative approach can't hurt Türkiye-NATO ties. (AA)

Greece's negative statements to NATO about Türkiye cannot harm ties between Ankara and the alliance, the Turkish president has said. "Greece's negative approach to NATO (about Ankara) does not weaken Türkiye-NATO relations," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul. Greece "has no value" in NATO, he said, adding the alliance is strong with Türkiye. Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, saying such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace. NATO’s land command, LANDCOM, tweeted on Tuesday a post to mark Türkiye's 100th Victory Day, which commemorates the resounding defeat of the occupying Greek armies at the hands of Turks in the Battle of Dumlupinar in 1922. LANDCOM deleted it after Greece lodged a complaint with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. LANDCOM tweeted on Thursday a new post to congratulate Türkiye on the occasion of the Victory Day, saying: "We are thankful to have Türkiye as our host nation." READ MORE: Türkiye will continue to respond to Greece's 'impertinence': Akar

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

- Greece has no value for NATO
- There cannot be a NATO without Türkiye
- Strong NATO requires Türkiye, without Türkiye NATO is weak pic.twitter.com/I5QogPBDXg

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) September 2, 2022

Since the beginning of 2022, Greek warplanes have violated Turkish airspace 256 times and harassed Turkish jets 158 times. Greek coast guard boats also violated Turkish territorial waters 33 times. Turkish jets engaged in NATO missions over the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Seas on August 23 were harassed by a Russian-made S-300 air defence system stationed on the Greek island of Crete. Greek military officials have denied the Turkish account of the actions, which are described as “hostile” in the NATO Rules of Engagement. READ MORE: Erdogan: Greece challenged NATO, allies by intercepting Turkish jets [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvhvTKBPCok[/embed] 'Unacceptable' Later in the day, the Turkish National Defence Ministry issued a strongly worded statement over the deletion of the tweet. "It is unacceptable that NATO Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) removed the social media post celebrating Aug. 30 Victory Day and the Turkish Armed Forces Day...," the ministry said. It said the official name given to August 30 by Türkiye is "Victory Day and Turkish Armed Forces Day", adding: "This is the will of our nation and cannot be changed." The ministry said the deleting of the tweet upon the "unfounded request" of a country that does not hesitate to sabotage NATO missions by putting radar locks on Turkish fighter jets, "has greatly damaged NATO's corporate identity and prestige". "Whether Victory Day is written or not, the fact that we won victory in 1922 cannot be changed," it added. Source: TRTWorld and agencies

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US, Greece disagree on extent of Greek airspace

According to a new report by the US State Department, Washington does not support Greek allegations that Turkish aircraft violate the country’s airspace.

The US encourages Greece and Türkiye “to resolve outstanding bilateral maritime boundary issues peacefully and in accordance with international law”, according to Greek media report. (AA)

The US has recently reiterated that it disagrees with Athens on the extent of Greek airspace, a Greek daily reported. Citing a report prepared by the US State Department and submitted to Congress, the Greek daily Kathimerini highlighted on Wednesday that the US does not support Greek allegations that Turkish aircraft violate the country’s airspace. The report said Greece claims an airspace that extends up to 10 nautical miles and a territorial sea of up to six nautical miles. "Under international law, a country’s airspace coincides with its territorial sea. The US thus recognises an airspace up to 6 nautical miles consistent with territorial sea. Greece and the US do not share a view on the extent of Greece’s airspace," it said. The report also noted that "Greece and its neighbours have not agreed on boundary delimitation in those areas where their lawful maritime entitlements overlap." According to the report, the lack of such delimitation means there is no clarity on the extent of Greece’s territorial sea and corresponding airspace in these areas As such, it noted, Greek claims that Turkish aircraft violate its airspace are not feasible. The report added that the US encourages Greece and Türkiye "to resolve outstanding bilateral maritime boundary issues peacefully and in accordance with international law." READ MORE: Türkiye: Greece's 'unfortunate' attempt against F-16 deal is 'abnormal' [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfWAhqWkxQo[/embed] New harassment  Meanwhile, Turkish planes taking part in a NATO mission over the Aegean Sea were harassed by Greek F-16 jets, Turkish National Defense Ministry sources said on Thursday. The sources, requesting anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said the two Turkish F-16s were harassed on Wednesday. As soon as the Greek jets locked their radar on the Turkish warplanes, the Turkish side responded with full force. This is the second time this week that Greek jets locked their radar on Turkish planes on NATO missions. On Tuesday, a similar incident took place over the Eastern Mediterranean. READ MORE: Greece radar locks Turkish F-16 jets during NATO mission READ MORE: Türkiye 'reciprocates' to Greek airspace breach Source: AA

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Türkiye saves 41,000 migrants left to die by Greece over 2 years

Fast News

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says "with the efforts of our Coast Guard... we have saved the lives of 41,000 people who were left to die by Greece" in the Aegean sea over the last two years.

Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal pushbacks, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law. (AA)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye saved the lives of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers illegally pushed back by Greece. “With the efforts of our Coast Guard, we have prevented deaths in the Aegean," Erdogan said at a Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy's graduation ceremony in the capital Ankara on Monday. "In the last two years, we have saved the lives of 41,000 people who were left to die by Greece," he said. Erdogan said the number of migrants apprehended by the Turkish Coast Guard has reached 245,000, adding Gendarmerie continues its fight against irregular migration and human traffickers. "If anyone still criticises our defence industry breakthroughs despite the military build-up in Greece, it means they have become deprived of strategic vision," he added. Türkiye has been a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution. Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children. READ MORE: Greece’s deadly pushback tactics, explained [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKfi4Od7DfI[/embed] Source: AA

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/turkiye-saves-41000-migrants-left-to-die-by-greece-over-2-years/?feed_id=14397&_unique_id=6303de7f78d3c

Greece flies Russian money launderer to US: lawyer

Greece has extradited a Russian money launderer to the US, hours after his release from a French jail, his lawyer said Friday.

Zoe Konstantopoulou said Alexander Vinnik “was loaded onto a private plane to the US” without being allowed to lodge an asylum request in Greece.

A source with knowledge of the case in France said Vinnik had been handed back to Greek authorities on Thursday afternoon, just weeks after the Court of Cassation in Paris confirmed his five-year sentence for money laundering.

Vinnik, 43, had been in French custody for the past two years following his extradition from Greece.

The father-of-two has been the subject of a long legal wrangle between Greece, France, Russia and the United States.

Vinnik’s French lawyer, Frederic Belot, said Washington appeared to have exerted significant pressure to secure his extradition.

He said his client was sent to San Francisco via Boston. He faces 55 years in prison in the US, Belot said.

“We are outraged by the Greek authorities’ unfriendly actions,” the Russian foreign ministry said, pledging to stand up for Vinnik’s interests.

“Russian diplomats will do everything possible to protect his legitimate rights and interests.”

Vinnik was originally arrested in July 2017 at the northern Greek tourist resort of Halkidiki. A long judicial procedure followed, with Greece sifting through the conflicting extradition requests before deciding in favour of France.

A French court in 2020 sentenced Vinnik to five years in prison for money laundering, but cleared him of an original charge of defrauding nearly 200 people using ransomware. His sentence was confirmed by the French Court of Cassation in June.

A US indictment accuses Vinnik of 21 charges ranging from identity theft and facilitating drug trafficking to money laundering.

In Russia he is wanted on lesser fraud charges involving just 9,500 euros.

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Türkiye calls Greek move disclaiming minority Muslims' local elected leaders 'unacceptable'

Ankara urges Greece to respect international law, fulfill obligations stemming from Lausanne Peace Treaty on Turkish minority in Western Thrace
Source https://www.globalcourant.com/turkiye-calls-greek-move-disclaiming-minority-muslims-local-elected-leaders-unacceptable/?feed_id=6385&_unique_id=62eb67d19c4c7