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'
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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 missionREAD MORE:Türkiye 'reciprocates' to Greek airspace breach
Source: AA
Greek prime minister is trying to gain time to erase the traces of surveillance and to establish a large coverup operation, says main opposition SYRIZA-PS.
‘The prime minister has been acting as the head of a shadowy and uncontrollable parastatal group,’ SYRIZA-PS said.
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Greece’s main opposition party has stepped up its criticism of the conservative government over a surveillance scandal that has rocked the country’s political scene since late July.
The SYRIZA-PS party said in a statement on Monday it is convinced that full responsibility for the scandal lies with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“The developments confirm that we are faced with a staff parastatal headed by Mr Mitsotakis himself,” it said.
The prime minister, who is not telling the truth about his role in the surveillance of journalists and the leader of the PASOK-KINAL party, is trying to gain time to erase the traces of surveillance and to establish a large coverup operation, the statement continued.
Arguing that the revelations which have become known so far are only the tip of the iceberg, the party said “the prime minister has been acting as the head of a shadowy and uncontrollable parastatal group.”
“Against this backdrop, the party thinks that it is highly likely that there are other political figures, either from the opposition or from the government itself, who have been targeted by these parastatal surveillances,” it said.
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Parliament inquiry
Meanwhile, as a result of a meeting between the parliamentary group presidents of the political parties represented in the Greek parliament, it was decided that the Greek Parliament’s Committee on Institutions and Transparency will meet Wednesday to vote on the appointment of the new head of the National Intelligence Service (EYP), public broadcaster ERT reported.
SYRIZA-PS announced that it will not take part in the voting on the appointment of Themistoklis Demiris as the EYP’s new chief.
Moreover, on Friday, the pre-agenda discussion at the level of party leaders on the scandal is expected to take place, while on August 29, a debate will be held in a plenary session of parliament on the formation of a commission of inquiry based on a request submitted by the PASOK-KINAL parliamentary group.
READ MORE: EU expects Greece to 'thoroughly' investigate spyware scandalSurveillance scandal
In a televised address to the nation on August 8, Mitsotakis acknowledged that PASOK-KINAL party leader Nikos Androulakis was wiretapped by the EYP, but he denied knowing about the operation.
“Although everything was done legally, the EYP underestimated the political dimension of this action. It was formally OK but politically unacceptable,” he said.
The announcement followed the resignation of EYP head Andreas Kontoleon and the Prime Minister's Secretary General Grigoris Dimitriadis on August 5.
The scandal unfolded on August 4 when Kontoleon told a parliamentary committee that his agency had been spying on financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis.
The parliamentary probe was launched after Androulakis complained to top prosecutors about an attempt to hack his mobile phone with Israeli-made Predator surveillance software.
READ MORE:Greek gov't sinks into political crisis amid spy scandal - L’Echo
Source: AA
Greece has challenged NATO and allies, not Türkiye by locking its air defense systems on Turkish jets carrying out NATO reconnaissance mission, says Turkish president
Ankara urges Greece to respect international law, fulfill obligations stemming from Lausanne Peace Treaty on Turkish minority in Western Thrace