Greek Armed Forces Chief warns NATO of possible “accident” with Turkey due to Turkish provocations

General Floros spoke with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), Sir Sir Stuart Peach, at his request, as part of the forthcoming meeting of the Military Committee at NATO level on March 14.

He then held a teleconference with DSACEUR Deputy Commander General Tim Radford at his request and as part of his recent assumption of the post.

General Floros made reference to the recent escalation of the immigration crisis in Evros and the Aegean, a result of Turkey’s conscious manipulation of the refugee crisis.

He went on to point out Turkey’s delinquent behaviour in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, as manifested by constant air traffic violations of the FIR in Athens and of Greece’s national airspace through overflights of national territory, while highlighting the execution of illegal marine surveys and drilling.

He also stressed the Turkish violations of the UN-imposed arms embargo on Libya and other provocative actions, highlighting in particular the risk of an accident and the serious consequences it could lead to.

Furthermore, he stressed the recent unacceptable harassment by Turkish fighter jets of a helicopter carrying Greek Defence Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos.