Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Greece it would pay a “heavy price” if it continued to “harass” Turkish planes over the Aegean.
As Greek Reporter said on Saturday Erdogan was referring to Ankara’s claim that Greek S-300 surface-to-air missiles stationed on Crete locked on a Turkish aircraft west of Rhodes last Sunday, which he referred to as a “hostile act.”
Athens has vehemently denied Turkey’s allegation, with Greek military sources assuring that the S-300s did not lock on to Turkish F-16 fighter jets.
“Hey Greece, take a look at history…If you go further, you will pay a heavy price,” Erdogan told a rally in the Black Sea region on Saturday.
Turkey also claims Greece is stationing troops on islands in the Aegean Sea in violation of peace treaties signed after World War I and World War II.
On Saturday, an infuriated Erdogan accused Greece of “occupying” the islands.
“We have only one word to tell Greece: Do not forget Izmir (Smyrna in Greek),” Erdogan said, referring to the end of the Greek occupation after Turkish forces entered the city on the Aegean coast in 1922.
“Your occupation of the islands does not bind us,” Erdogan said.
“When the time comes, we will do what’s necessary [, and as] we say, we may come suddenly one night,” Erdogan was quoted by the same source as saying.
/Argumentum.al
