A boat with immigrants attempted to pass this morning (9/11), accompanied by Turkish coast guard vessels, into Greek territorial waters east of Lesvos, according to the Coast Guard.
The announcement of the Coast Guard:
«Accompanied by Turkish coast guard vessels, a wind-powered dinghy with a sufficient number of foreigners attempted to enter Greek territorial waters east of Lesvos, as determined by the audiovisual material (video) published today by the Headquarters of the Coast Guard - Greek Coast Guard.
From this footage, it is clear that the Turkish coastguard vessels are making obvious efforts, with dangerous manoeuvres, to direct the boat with the foreigners, which they are escorting, into Greek territorial waters, in order to illegally enter them.
Repeated attempts were made by the Coast Guard-Hellenic Coast Guard High Seas Boat and the patrol boats of the Coast Guard to communicate with the Turkish coast guard boats, in order to pick up the occupants of the dinghy, with negative results. The dinghy with the foreigners did not enter Greek territorial waters at all and its occupants were eventually intercepted by the Turkish coastguards.
In parallel there was also an incident of harassment of Coast Guard vessels by a Turkish flotilla.
The Coast Guard is taking all necessary measures, with determination, respect for the 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 in the number of illegal crossings of our maritime borders by third country nationals.
The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Yannis Plakiotakis, said after the incident:
«Once again, the Turkey behaved as a pirate state in the Aegean.
In breach of its obligations towards the Commission European Union, this morning, Turkish patrols escorted a boat with dozens of people who tried to cross our country's maritime border.
The timely and calm reaction of the Coast Guard officers prevented the violation of our borders and stopped the development of the incident.
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 priority to the protection of human life.».
