Greek PM Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have arranged to speak over the phone before the latter’s scheduled visit to Turkey on February 2. The communication was decided after the recent ruling by the Greek Supreme Court to block the extradition of 8 Turkish military officers at the request of Turkey to stand trial for treason, as well as the belligerent reaction by Turkey against Greece and the provocation at the Imia isles over the weekend. It should be noted that 40 Turkish military personnel stationed in Germany as part of NATO have also applied for political asylum.