An outrageous request was issued yesterday at noon to the Huey helicopter that was carrying Greek Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias from Strongyli islet, the easternmost Greek territory, to Ro islet in the eastern Aegean.

The operators of a Turkish radar transmitted the following message to the helicopter: “You are flying within Turkish FIR. Please leave.”

Apart from the Minister of Defence, aboard the helicopter were also the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Michail Kostarakos and the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Christos Manolas. According to reports, the crew ignored the provocation and continued its course.

Mr. Dendias was visiting the islets as part of his tour at the units and outposts in the Area of Responsibility of the 95th Higher National Guard Battalions Command.

Although the incident was not considered threatening, according to officers from Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Mr. Dendias sent the following message to Greece’s Turkish neighbors from Kastelorizo:

“Greece has the honor of enjoying peaceful and friendly relations with all the peoples in the world. But it is also determined to defend both its national sovereignty and its national dignity.”