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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Greek, Turkish fighter pilots in frequent dogfights over disputed Aegean Sea despite talks

ANKARA — Greece and Turkey are continuing to stage mock combat air dogfights despite months of ongoing negotiations.   

Officials said Greek F-16 multi-role fighters have been challenging Turkish Air Force combat aircraft during patrols and training missions over the Aegean. They said that although talks have been held to arrange recognized corridors, the mock dogfights continued throughout 2008.

"Despite our efforts over the last 18 months, the Hellenic Air Force has not revised any of its rules of engagement," a Turkish official said.

Athens has set its territorial air space as being 16 kilometers from the Greek coast, and its territorial waters as 25 kilometers from shore. Turkey, deeming this a violation of international law, does not recognize the Greek boundaries.

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The Turkish military recorded hundreds of Greek interception attempts of Turkish combat aircraft in 2008. In November 2008, Greek warplanes engaged Turkish fighters 58 times without incident.

In May 2006, a Greek F-16 aircraft crashed and one of its pilots was killed in a dogfight over the Aegean about 60 kilometers south of Rhodes. An Athens court has convicted in absentia the Turkish F-16 pilot of wrongful death. The Turkish F-16 plane also crashed, but the pilot ejected safely.

"This judgment has no basis or any legal value whatsoever," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Jan. 31. "It also shows how easily the law can be conveniently manipulated and the principle of fair trial can be violated with unilateral claims. It is only natural that all the required demarches be made and the necessary measures taken in this regard."

Over the last year, officials said, Turkey's military has asked NATO to mediate the border dispute. Ankara has also proposed the drafting of a code of conduct to end Greek harassment.

"NATO does not want to get involved," the official said.



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