New Turkish challenge in the Aegean: A boat with immigrants accompanied by the coast guard tried to enter the country (vid) |

An inflatable boat with dozens of foreigners, attempted this morning, accompanied by Turkish Coast Guard boats, to enter Greek territorial waters east of Lesvos, announced the Coast Guard-Greek Coast Guard.

According to the announcement of the Headquarters of the Coast Guard, the vessels of the Turkish Coast Guard attempted with dangerous maneuvers to direct the boat with the foreigners in the Greek territorial waters, in order to enter them illegally. Repeated communication efforts were made by the Offshore Ship of the Hellenic Coast Guard as well as by the patrol boats of the Greek Coast Guard with the boats of the Turkish Coast Guard, in order to pick up the passengers of the boat, with negative results.

According to the Coast Guard, the boat with the foreigners did not enter the Greek territorial waters at all and its passengers were finally collected by the Turkish coastguards.

At the same time, there was an incident of harassment of Coast Guard boats by a Turkish coastguard.

According to a statement issued by the Coast Guard Headquarters, the Corps is taking all necessary measures, with determination, respect for international law and sensitivity to human life, for the effective surveillance and protection of the maritime borders of Greece and the EU. The results of which are reflected in the rapid reduction of the number of illegal crossings of our maritime borders by third-country nationals.

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Giannis Plakiotakis, stated the following after the incident:

“Once again, Turkey behaved like a pirate state in the Aegean.

In violation of its commitments to the European Union, this morning, Turkish coastguards accompanied a boat with dozens of people who tried to violate the maritime borders of our country.

The timely and calm reaction of the officers of the Coast Guard prevented the violation of our borders and stopped the development of the episode.

The European Union must put much more pressure on Turkey to comply with its international obligations.

“Greece protects and will continue to protect its maritime borders, with determination, respect for international law and the protection of human life as a priority.”