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.
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.