Today, 29 years ago, on the early morning of January 31, 1996, the crisis in Imia culminated, an event that brought as much as ever to Greece and Turkey in their modern history.

“We do not forget Christodoulos Karathanassis, Panagiotis Vlachakos and Hector Gialopsos. They fell in favor of Imia 29 years ago, “National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said in a post on X.

The Chronicle of 31 January 1996

• 00:00 meeting a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office. Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos arrives late because he is taking part in a television show.
• 01:40 In the GEHEA, information arrives that Turks are landing in Little Imia.
• 04:30 Helicopter of the Hellenic Navy takes off from the frigate “Navarino” to confirm the information. Bad weather is prevalent.
• 04:50 The helicopter crew reports that it has identified about 10 Turkish commandos with their flag. He is ordered to return to his base and while flying between the rocky pie and Kalolimnos reports damage and is lost by the radars.

Later, all three crew members, Lieutenant Christodoulos Karathanassis, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Vlachakos and the Chief Executive Gialopsos will be resolved. About the causes of the helicopter decline have been formulated.

The official view of the Greek state was that the boat fell due to bad weather and loss of orientation of the pilot. However, in Greece there is a widespread view that the helicopter was dismissed either by the Turkish Navy or by the Turkish Commanders on the island and that the event was hidden in order to end the crisis and not to lead the two countries to a general conflict or conflict. Even in war.

• 06:00 Americans through Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Holbrook impose their will on both sides. “No Ships, No Troops, No Table-Flags” they say or in more elegant diplomatic language the status quo ante apply. By noon on January 31, 1996, ships, soldiers and flags had retired from Imia.