On Oct. 19, Erdogan said a ban on military flights over the Aegean would reduce tension and improve relations with Greece. He said both countries would also benefit from lower military costs from both reduced operations as well as defense procurement cuts.

"And we need to make sure that the public opinion in the two countries does not see the issue as a military one," Erdogan told Greek television.

Officials said Greece and Turkey have spent tens of millions of dollars in military flights over the Aegean. They said Hellenic Air Force operations to intercept Turkish F-16 multi-role fighters over the Aegean cost Athens 25 million euro in 2009.

After a year of reduced tension, Greek-Turkish air confrontations resumed in 2010. Under Erdogan's proposal, NATO would assume control of flights over the Aegean as well as naval operations.

"We shall mutually inform each other about the routes of warships," Erdogan said. "We shall solve the continental shelf issue and reduce armaments."

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