A Turkish gunboat which approached Imia along with several assault craft carrying commandos on Sunday was chased out by the Greek cannon ship ‘’Krateos’’ and coast guard.
The incident put the Greek military on high alert as the Turkish gunboat which illegally entered Greek territorial waters was carrying the Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar.
The Turkish provocation was met with warnings from the Greek side which eventually sent the cannon ship Krateos which ‘chased’ the Turkish military flotilla out of Greek waters.
Government sources believe the provocative gesture was a response to the Greek Supreme Court’s decision to reject the extradition of the eight Turkish military personnel currently seeking asylum in Greece after having fled Turkey post the failed military coup.
A territorial dispute over Imia exists between the two countries which brought them to the brink of war twenty one years ago.
