Posted on 06/05/2005 6:49:35 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
Greece’s military is keeping a close eye on traditional rival Turkey after French and Dutch referendums on the EU Constitution raised questions over future EU enlargement, Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos said.
“Of course we are checking the behavior of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, and we will continue to do that,” Spiliotopoulos said yesterday while attending a one-day military exercise.
“Turkey’s response appears to have been neutral,” Spiliotopoulos told The Associated Press. He added that Greece was “closely monitoring” Aegean air space after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the EU Constitution in separate referendums this week.
“We stand firm on our permanent views on national issues,” the minister said.
NATO allies Greece and Turkey have come to the brink of war three times since 1974. They have longstanding disputes over the war-divided island of Cyprus, as well as air space and territorial rights in the Aegean, despite recently improved relations.
Greece says its national air space extends to 10 miles (16 kilometers), but Turkey recognizes only 6 miles (10 kilometers) — the same distance as territorial waters — often leading to accusations of air space violations.
Spiliotopoulos said all alleged air space violations by Turkish jets have been reported by Athens to NATO and the EU.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis said Athens remained strongly in favor of EU expansion to include Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, adding that Turkey also deserved to become a full EU member once it fulfills entry criteria.
Spiliotopoulos yesterday attended an exercise near Athens code-named “Dolphin 05” in which warships, fighter jets, attack helicopters and special forces units responded to the capturing of a Greek island by “red forces.” Turkey’s national colors are red and white.
It should be noted that the Greek government is currently run by the conservatives. It would be speculation to wonder if the socialists would have done the same military excercise.
Part of this mix of simering problems is the 1974 cyprus invasion. Presently the US state department is involved and a senators on "junkets". There is very little hope of a viable resolution.
ping
I just returned from the Patrida and heard some interesting things on this. Greece has penetrated deeply into the Balkans in an economic sense, controling banks, power companies, telephone companies and construction materials companies. Greece either just has or will soon buy the National Bank of Turkey as well as power, telephone and construction infrastructure there. Clearly it is in the economic interests of Greece to see Bulgaria and Romania in the EU. To an extent the same goes for Turkey, I suppose, but what I mostly heard was that the Greeks believe that the EU will civilize Turkey at least to some extent. One fear they have right now is that Turkey will break up into three pieces, a "European" civilized piece extending from Constantinople to Ankara, a Kurdish piece and a sort of wild land for the rest made up of Anatolian Mohammaden peasants. Not something they relish at all. There's real concern in Greece about the neighborhood.
Clerk: Name, please.
Spilios: Spilios Spiliotopoulos.
Clerk: Can you spell that ...
Spilios: No.
actually Greek is an easy language to spell. It all spells like it sounds. (for example there would be no "k" in knife, if it was a greek word.)
of course this lead to children of Greek parents being grateful when a teacher said a subject was "all Greek." The Greek speakers would breath a sigh of relief, relax and learn the subject matter well.
Interesting, I heard about the ecconomic extensions to the north but not to the east.
I wonder though if they would rather see enough political instability for the Cyprus issue to have real progress.
As I see it right now, a Republican Senator from Kentucky (I believe) went to occupied cyprus with Turkish lobbyists to push for allowing an independent norther cyprus to be recognized.
(nobody every discusses the profits reaped from the stollent copper mines in the northern part of cyprus)
I do happen to know a bit of koine and modern Greek, and of course you're right. It's actually very easy for English speakers to learn the Greek alphabet and its sound equivalents. Cyrillic is the same way. But here I was thinking of the English transliteration.
no problem.
"engrish" is always fun.
"As I see it right now, a Republican Senator from Kentucky (I believe) went to occupied cyprus with Turkish lobbyists to push for allowing an independent norther cyprus to be recognized."
Why does this not surprise me in the least bit?
""engrish" is always fun."
Ella, vrai! "Greeklish"!
"Greeklish" is the alphabet of cross alantic romance ...
Ed Whitfield. I have already sent him a letter expressing my disgust with him.
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