UPDATE - Ankara's sensitivity to Greece's harassment of Turkish jets continues: President

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT; ADDS BACKGROUND

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - About Greece's harassment of Turkish jets, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Ankara's talks with NATO are on, adding: "Our sensitivity continues. Greece is aware of this."

"On the issue of radar-lock, our sensitivity persists with determination. Greece is aware of this and has thus chosen to clean up its act," Erdogan said in the capital Ankara ahead of embarking on a three-nation Balkan tour, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia, respectively.

Erdogan reiterated the warning to Athens, saying: "All of a sudden, we can come overnight."

Turkish jets engaged in NATO missions over the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas on Aug. 23 were harassed by a Russian-made S-300 air defense system stationed on the Greek island of Crete.

The president said Turkish officials continue to raise this issue before NATO.

According to Turkish National Defense Ministry sources, Greece violated Türkiye’s airspace and territorial waters over 1,100 times in the first eight months of this year alone.

Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarized under the treaty, saying that such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace.

- 3-nation Balkan tour

Before heading Bosnia and Herzegovina to start his three-day Balkan tour, Erdogan said Türkiye pursues a policy that supports stability and development of the Balkans and its integration process into Euro-Atlantic structures.

"We will be endeavoring to find a solution to the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina during our visit," he said.

After Bosnia and Herzegovina, Erdogan will visit Serbia and Croatia.

"We are trying to avoid tensions while keeping our connection strong with this geography, where we have deep-rooted historical, human, and cultural ties. We support the development of the Balkans with the projects we have implemented," Erdogan said.

The Balkans is a priority for Türkiye not only for political, economic, and geographical reasons, but also due to its historical, cultural, and human ties with the region.

Erdogan said Ankara witnesses that all the peoples in the region welcome with appreciation Türkiye's balanced and fair stance, adding: "We will maintain our stance in the period ahead."

- Energy crisis

Regarding the energy crisis, Erdogan said Europe will face "serious problems" this winter, but Türkiye does not have such issues.

Gas prices surged after the Russian energy company Gazprom announced that natural gas shipments from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe have been halted indefinitely.

Gazprom shut down the pipeline between Aug. 31-Sept. 2 for repairs, and supplies were scheduled to resume after Sept. 2, but the company announced the pipeline would remain closed.

"Europe reaps what it sows," he said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts to European sanctions in a similar manner.