Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar unleashed new threats shortly before Abdul Hamid Khan’s departure to the Mediterranean for drilling.
As reported by SKAI’s correspondent in Turkey, the country’s defense minister, in an ironic and undiplomatic way, targeted Kastelorizo again.
Speaking at the conference of Turkish ambassadors taking place in Ankara, he referred to the distance of Kastelorizos from Turkey, saying that it is only 1,950 meters and the students of the military schools can swim there.
In fact, referring to a certain Greek minister, who allegedly said that “if they can, let them come”, he replied “if God wills, this can happen too”.
According to the same information, Akar, like Cavusoglu, referred to the “demilitarization” of the Greek islands during Turkey’s illogical reading of the International Treaties on the islands of the eastern Aegean, while asserting that it is Greece that is pursuing an “expansionist policy”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to announce the official launch of the work of the floating Turkish drilling rig Abdul Hamid Khan today from the port of Tasucu in Mersin, using his ship to send a double message to the internal audience on the one hand and on the Greek Cypriot side and the international community that Turkey does not intend to give up its illegal claims within the Greek and Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.
A total of four ships will accompany the floating drilling rig when it goes offshore: the research Vilim and 3 logistics support ships: Hakan Ilhan, Murat Ilhan and Kutsi Ilhan.
The last two arrived yesterday from Constantinople and joined the convoy.
The troubling element is the existence of 3 logistic support ships, which means a long stay at the point of interest.
According to information, more than 3 warships, a submarine, and Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will be on the side of the drilling rig, which will monitor the area.
At the same time, the Greek side appears to be calm but also on guard, avoiding to play the game of the Turks through an escalation of its rhetoric in view of Abdul Hamid Khan’s exit, however, maintaining at a high level the readiness of the Hellenic Armed Forces and especially the Hellenic Navy.
Already a large part of the fleet is in position, while according to information special orders have been given to the submarines and mainly to the modern type-214 “Papanikolis” which are moving with full combat load in the areas of the Greek EEZ where Abdul Hamid Khan is likely to choose to operate, in a high intensity scenario.
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At the Greek Ministry of National Defense, several meetings have been held in recent days with the aim of examining the scenarios as well as our country’s operational response in the field, should the Turkish drilling rig and its escort vessels choose to move within the Greek EEZ, south of Crete or south of the Dodecanese.
The Greek answer
In a strict manner, the Greek side responded to the unprecedented provocation of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hulusi Akar.
Specifically, the government representative, Yannis Oikonomou, speaking at the briefing of the political editors, at noon on Tuesday and answering a related question, noted that Greece is initially dealing with the sailing of the Turkish ship, Abdul Hamid Khan, with vigilance and the necessary caution.
“We always do what needs to be done with sobriety and determination to ensure peace in the area”, added Yannis Oikonomou.
The government representative also commented on Akar’s provocative statements about Kastelorizo, speaking of “rhetorical exaggerations and provocations which do not add anything more to Greek-Turkish relations”.
“Always in the face of provocations, rhetorical or otherwise, the government has demonstrated that it is positioned with calmness and determination”, stressed Yannis Oikonomou, assuring that the Greek “national rights are absolutely protected based on international treaties and our deterrent capacity and on the fact that the global community knows that Greece is a factor of stability and on the side of International Law”.
At the same time, he sent the message to Turkey that Greece is not willing to take a step back regarding the issues of its national sovereignty.
He suggested, in response to the Turkish defense minister’s comments about the “Turkish swimmers”, that “it is a good idea to hold an open sea peace race with Greeks and Turks. It’s better to look at the issue in a more relaxed way and with an emphasis on International Law and not to create foci of tension”.
