Tensions between Turkey and Greece: Greek coastal guard shoots at Turkish yacht

The night of today, a boat of the Coast Guard of the island of Rhodes, Greece, during its patrol in the sea area off the west coast noticed a white yacht moving suspiciously off the coast, with lights turned off.

After the continued use of light signals from the Watchtower Coastal crew so that the suspicious yacht would be stopped for control, his pilot did not respect it but picked up speed as he performed dangerous maneuvers.

The shooting was conducted in safe areas, in accordance with the rules of engagement, so that the yacht would stop for control. After being followed, the yacht moved to the Turkish coast and entered Turkish territorial waters accompanied by two Turkish guards”, the Greek Navy announcement reported.

The same incident is reported by Turkish media, which accuse Greece of firing and wounding two Turks and a Syrian citizen, the TCh reports.

In a statement to the media, Greece says “will not accept any blackmail”, thus referring to the yacht crash today at midnight: After a meeting led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I requested that an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers be held on the subject of Turkey's enlargement provocations and illegal activities.

This requirement comes at a time of clear threats from Turkey against peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Cyprus.

Despite our country's commitment to dialogue on the basis of the rules of International Law and the Law of the Sea, a commitment which we re-focus again, Turkey has decided to return to its recognised illegal activity.

She has once again testified that her statements of readiness to be included in the dialogue were inaccurate and inconsistent.