Greece categorically refuted on Wednesday Turkish media reports claiming the “demilitarization” of several Greek islands. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis called these demilitarization reports “fake news.” “We make this clear once more: there is absolutely no change of strategy regarding the distribution of forces and the defensive protection of the country,” …
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Amendment seeks additional US bases on Greek islands
An amendment to assess the potential for additional bases or an expanded US military presence specifically on Greek islands, has been passed at the US House of Representatives. This amendment comes in the context of the expanded defense cooperation agreement signed by the United States and Greece in October 2021, …
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Greece’s sovereignty over the Aegean islands “is not in question”, says US State Dept
The United States on Tuesday decried Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s threats to Greece as “unhelpful,” while stressing that Greek sovereignty over the Aegean islands “is not in question.” “At a time when Russia has again invaded a sovereign European state, statements that could raise tensions between NATO allies are …
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1,130 migrants on 24 boats attempted to cross into Greek waters in 3 days
24 boats carrying a total of 1,130 migrants and refugees attempted to cross into Greek territorial waters in three days, from June 24 morning until June 27, Greek authorities from the Shipping Ministry said on Monday. The boats had left the western coast of Turkey and they attempted to enter …
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“The islands! The islands! Give me the islands! And half Cyprus!”
The Turkish folk, famous for their seafarer skills since their Mongolian past, wants to expand their territories and grab islands. In the West. Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. And half the Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean, they illegally occupies since 1974. Haven’t Turkish politicians often claimed in the 1990’s …
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Erdogan, opposition CHP hand-in-hand to challenge Greek islands
“If you have the heart for it, take the step on the occupied and armed islands. We will support you,” leader of Turkey’s main opposition party CHP, Kemal Kilicdaroglu said in support of Erdogan’s aggressive policy towards Greece. Speaking at the Grand National Assembly on Wednesday, the chief of [Modern …
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Turkey names 14 Greek islands claiming to challenge their sovereignty
Turkey continued its provocative crescendo against Greece on Tuesday and its Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu went so far to show maps and named 14 Greek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea for which Ankara wants to challenge the Greek sovereignty. “Demilitarize the islands now or we will raise the issue …
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FM: Turkey will challenge islands sovereignty if Greece doesn’t demilitarize
Greece must withdraw its military from the Aegean islands or Turkey “will take matters further,” if Athens failed to do so, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Thursday. Ankara is prepared to challenge their sovereignty, he added. “We are not bluffing. If Athens does not comply, we will take matters …
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Israeli official proposes to buy Greek islands, turn them into “Safe Haven for Jewish People”
An Israeli politician has reportedly floated the idea of purchasing Greek islands as a contingency plan for the evacuation of Israelis in case of an Iranian missile attack. Avri Steiner, a representative of the Blue and White party (Kahol Lavan) led by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, suggested the idea …
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US State Dept: No question about Greek sovereignty over Aegean islands
The sovereignty of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea is not in question, the US State Department noted in response to recent statements by Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. In a response to a related query by the Hellas Journalwebsite, a spokesperson of the US State Department clarified …
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Folegandros shipwreck: Bodies of two children, two adults washed up on Greek islands
The bodies of two children are among the four washed up on the beaches of the islands of Naxos and Paros in the central Aegean Sea on Thursday. The children are girls and estimated to be 12-13 years old. The Greek Coast Guard estimates they belong to the victims of …
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Authorities warn 8 Greek islands if they don’t contain the virus spread
Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias warned local authorities on six popular Greek islands including Santorini and Rhodes to contain the spread of coronavirus infections by observing health measures better, or face the introduction of additional restrictions. At the briefing on Thursday, Hardalias said that a steady rise in infections …
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Young passengers on domestic flights to Greek islands with self-test only, says CAA
Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that young passengers aged 12-17 who travel to Greek islands from mainland airports on domestic flights can board by providing a negative self-test conducted within 24 hours before travel. The age group 12-17 is determined for those born before 1. July 2009. Children below …
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Greek Gov’t seeks more quarantine hotels on islands, “Covid-cabins” for travelers
The Greek government is seeking to increase the number of quarantine hotels on the islands and to establish “Covid-cabins” on ferries to allow return of travelers tested positive. The government is in a difficult position as the pandemic 4th wave hits the country and those in charge of taking decisionσ …
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2,500 travelers over weekend not allowed to board due to lack of Covid-documents
Some 2,500 travelers were banned in the last three days alone from entering ferries departing for the Greek islands because they lacked the required Covid-documentation to board the ships, Shipping Minister Giannis Plakiotakis said on Monday. The Minister did not mention anything on whether travelers were not allowed to board …
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Covid-documents incl. self-tests for those returning from Greek islands to mainland
The Greek government has announced new measures to address the rapid spread of the Delta mutation and decided to make self-tests mandatory for those returning from the Greek islands to mainland or travel by boat even per sea taxi. According to a decision issued by the Ministry of Shipping and …
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Greece updates Covid-regulations to travel to islands per ferry/airplane
With a new ministerial decision, regulations for traveling to/from the Greek islands and between islands by ferry, ship or airplane have been updated. The new regulations come into force on Monday, July 5, 2021, with the aim to contain the spread of Covid-19. For traveling from mainland to islands Ferry/Ship …
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New Covid-regulations to travel to/from Greek islands from July 5
Head of Civil Protection and Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias announced on Thursday new rules and Covid-certificates for traveling to/from the Greek islands. He said that these are the recommendations of the epidemiologists’ committee. From Monday, 5. July 201, for travel to the Greek islands required will be: For adults either …
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Greece extends directive for international & non-EU passengers, flights to islands
Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) extended on Saturday the air directives (notams) for international flight passengers and flights to Greek islands as well as the ban for non-EU citizens from entering the country. However, it raised the number of non-EU countries whose citizens are allowed to Greece to 22. In …
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Virus will bite us again, opening without health safety protocols,” warns Virology expert
A US-based virology expert on Friday decried lapses in health safety protocols for travel to the Greek islands, warning that “the virus will come back to bite us if we disregard it.” “Even though we have the standards, the information, we are opening up without abiding by any standards and …
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