Turkey warns Greece over military drill in Aegean

By Meltem Bulur

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Foreign Ministry has warned Greece against its military activities in the Aegean island of Kos.

In emailed remarks to the media in Ankara on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu urged Greek authorities to obey international norms.

About reports claiming Greece had ordered military reinforcements in Kos island, Muftuoglu said: “Greek military drill is a clear violation of international law.”

He called on Athens to not take any step that could increase tensions between the two neighbors.

“We call on our neighbor Greece to give up any arbitrary step contrary to international law that could create tensions,” he added.

He said Ankara would take all legal actions to defend its right over the Aegean Sea.

On Thursday, some Greek media outlets reported that Greek paratroopers landed on Kos, violating the Paris Peace Treaty that prohibits all military activities in the island.

On Sunday, Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar paid a surprise visit to neighboring Kardak islets.