Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding a protest demarche to the Turkish side over the unprecedented number of overflights of Greek territory by Turkish fighter aircraft (28.04.2022)

Upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, the Ministry’s Secretary General, Themistoklis Demiris, made a short while ago a new demarche to the Turkish Ambassador to protest in the strongest terms the unprecedented number of violations of Greek airspace and overflights of Greek territory, including over several inhabited areas, carried out within one day.

The Secretary General underscored that the ongoing Turkish provocative and unlawful conduct, which violates Greek sovereignty, is totally condemnable and unacceptable.

Apart from the self-evident fact that they constitute a blatant violation of International Law, the Secretary General added that under Turkey’s sole responsibility, these actions create a climate of particular tension in the relations between the two countries, which runs contrary to the efforts undertaken to improve this climate.

At the same time, they undermine NATO’s cohesion at a particularly critical juncture in the wider region.

The Greek side immediately proceeded to inform in this regard officials from the EU, NATO, UN, ICAO, as well as officials from countries that are members of the UN Security Council.