Yeni Safak: "Greece stops arming Aegean islands after agreement with Ankara"

A few days after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Greece is beginning to demilitarize the islands of the Aegean Sea, the Turkish publication Yeni Safak reports.

If this is true, it means that there is a secret agreement between the Mitsotakis and Erdogan governments. Is it so? Athens will have to explain.

And what exactly do they mean when they say “stop arming the islands“? Will everything that is already there go away? Let us recall that at the request of Washington, BMP-1 armored personnel carriers, FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS and many other weapons that were transferred to Ukraine have already been withdrawn from the islands. The question is whether they will also replace existing SA8B Gecko anti-aircraft systems and SHORAD air defense systems.

Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak talks about Greece’s “surprise move” to “demilitarize the islands”

According to a Turkish pro-government newspaper, Greece has begun demilitarization of the islands. “An unexpected step by Athens: the armament of the islands has been stopped” – this is the title of the publication. It is noted: “A positive step was taken by Greece, which showed signs of normalizing relations with Turkey. The Athens government stopped arming islands, islets and rocks whose sovereignty is not determined by treaties, which was one of the main problems in relations between the two countries.”.

Sources of the Turkish publication note that “as negotiations gain momentum, new positive developments will emerge”.

According to the publication:

“The process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Greece is progressing positively. The government of Athens has stopped arming the islands, islets and rocks (EGEIDAC), the sovereignty of which is not determined by treaties, which is one of the problem areas.

Moves towards normalizing relations between the two countries following the February disasters were reinforced by a meeting between United Nations (UN) Chairman Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in September. By the time the leaders’ meeting resumes in December, positive developments are expected on the island issue, which is one of the most serious problems in relations between the two countries.”

According to the same publication, “The issue of EGEAIDAAC (i.e. “islands, islets and rocky bays, the sovereignty over which has not been transferred to Greece in accordance with the treaties”), which is one of the most serious and complex agenda items in relations between the two countries, directly affects the territorial waters around 152 islands, islets and rocks, as well as an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The names and status of the islands and islets in the Aegean Sea were not defined in the Lausanne and Paris treaties of 1923 and 1947.

The island issue between the two countries is due to Greece’s desire to own all islands, islets and rocks located beyond three nautical miles from the coast of Anatolia, in violation of international law. Because of the Aegeidaak dispute, it was not possible to find a solution to issues such as the problems of the continental shelf and airspace, as well as the distribution of maritime and air jurisdiction in the sea of ​​islands.”.

Equipment of the Aegean islands

Yeni Safak also mentions the armament program of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

“Greece, which has decided in recent months to strengthen its air force against Turkey, has ordered Rafale jets from France and stationed them on the island of Limeni, a few hours’ drive from Turkey. Likewise, hundreds of Greek soldiers serve at four large and small bases on Samos, the closest island to Turkey. There are systems belonging to the Greek armed forces in Meis, Sakiz, Batnoz, Ipsar, Nergizchik, Eshek, Bulancak, Kalolymnoz, Kechi, Sombeki, Chamad and Karaada, which are also in close proximity to Turkey.”– noted in the message.

Demilitarization of the islands

The Turkish publication noted: “Sources said that with the advent of a new period in relations between the two countries, investment in ammunition in the islands, which were armed in the past, has ceased, and with positive decisions to be made in the future, there will be positive changes for the latest situation in the islands.”

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