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Greece to inform EU of Turkey's violations

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-28 01:03

ATHENS: Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will raise the issue of continuing Turkish violations of the Greek airspace at a meeting of the European Union (EU), the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

"Thuggery is not accepted in Europe... And I say this as an old friend of the Turkish people and a long-standing supporter of Turkey's European course. Turkey is obliged to adhere to what it has agreed to," Bakoyannis said before travelling to Brussels to attend the meeting, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

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Greek media have reported that a formation of six fighter jets from neighboring Turkey entered the Greek airspace over the northern Aegean last week. Greek Air Force planes intercepted the Turkish F-16s.

Overflights of Turkish Air Force planes over Greek islands, which Greece says were in violation of the international law, have intensified this summer, fuelling concern in Athens, which also denounces Ankara's intention to carry out geophysical survey within the Greek continental shelf.

"In December, Turkey will be judged by all of us (EU members) based on what has been agreed to... This is an even greater value in our standing position, namely, 'full adaptation (of EU criteria), full membership'," Bakoyannis said.

The foreign minister also said she has accepted, in principle, an invitation by her Turkish counterpart to visit Ankara.

"I will make this visit taking into consideration all of my other obligations and the most suitable moment in order for it (visit) to be beneficial and effective," she said.