Although the Greek government condemned Turkey's harassment of a Greek military helicopter transporting the Minister of National Defence Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and the Chief of General Staff Konstantinos Floros, the leader of political party Greek Solution (Ελληνική Λύση) suggested a much more drastic response.
Kyriakos Velopoulos, a Member of Parliament and President of the Greek Solution, demanded the shooting down of Turkish fighter jets, such as those that harassed Panagiotopoulos and Floros on Sunday.
According to Velopoulos, the Turks continue their "stupidity" and, in addition to harassing the helicopter, they once again made overflights over the Eastern Aegean islands of Oinousses and Agathonisi.
In fact, he added that these "idiots" who are harassing Greek jets must be "destroyed."
ΟΙ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΙ ΣΥΝΕΧΊΖΟΥΝ ΤΟΝ ΧΑΒΑΤΟΥΣ!Τουρκικά μαχητικά παρενόχλησαν ελικόπτερο που μετέφερε,υπουργό Άμυνας Αρχηγό ΓΕΕΘα ! Υπερπτήσεις σε Οινούσσες Αγαθονήσι!ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΚΟΠΟΥΝ ΟΙ "ΧΑBAΔΕΣ" ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΤΑΡΡΊΠΤΟΝΤΑΙ ΟΧΙ ΝΑ ΜΑΣ "ΠΕΡΝΟΥΝ ΓΙΑ ΧΑΛΒΑΔΕΣ"! @ellinikilisi https://t.co/PDtusKb7Mi
— Κυριάκος Βελόπουλος (@velopky) May 3, 2020
Panagiotopoulos spoke about the incident that took place on Sunday, when Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter that himself and the Chief of General Staff General Konstantinos Floros were flying in.
Panagiotopoulos condemned the Turkish provocation, as reported by Greek City Times, stating from Farmakonisi: “Shortly before, the helicopter that transported us was harassed by Turkish fighters. I have to admit that we did not feel this harassment. On the contrary, when we looked up at the sky we saw the Greek fighters who had already expelled the Turkish fighters from the area. What I would like to say, however, is that such behaviour on Turkey’s part does not help to ease the tension that both sides should seek at this time. However, we are not afraid at all. I would like to congratulate the members of the Armed Forces who are guarding the borders as vigilant guards along the entire length of the country’s land and sea borders, as they have always done.”
Although Velopoulos' suggestions would surely lead to war, endless statements of denouncements also will not stop Turkey's daily air violations.
Turkey in 2019 violated Greek airspace 4,811 times, and it appears that 2020 will be no different.
So other solutions must be found that can hinder Turkey's daily aggression without resulting in war, such as sanctions or cut of diplomatic relations. This may upset the NATO alliance, but is necessary to stop Turkish aggression.
The Greek Solution wants friendly relations with China, India and Russia, and takes pro-Russian stances, but Party spokesman Vangelis Fanidis also emphasised in 2019 that "We go with Greece's interest wherever that lies – Russia, America, China. We go logically towards Christian Russia, but it's not a sure thing given Russia's current alliance with Turkey."
