Turkey using Greek soldiers as "bargaining chips"

http://www.euronews.com ^ | 4/22/18 | Emily Commander & Hermione Gee

[BBell]

Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan said he would consider releasing the soldiers if eight Turkish servicemen, who sought assylum in Greece following the failed 2016 coup attempt, were sent home first.

"Blackmail"

Athens has described this as "blackmail", with the Defence Ministry describing the soldiers as "hostages", and the Greek Supreme Court has sided with the government.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece said:

"There was an unacceptable connection made between the Greek officers who were arbitrarily detained, and Turkish citizens who came to Greece, and requested asylum. Because Greece implemented - I emphasize this - implemented international law, it was granted. These are two totally different cases and any confusion is unthinkable"

Blunder

The Turkish authorities have kept the two Greek soldiers in pre-trial detention in a prison in Edirne since they wandered onto Turkish terroritory by accident in March. No official charges have been filed against them.

There have been numerous street protests in Greece calling for their immediate release.

[BBell]

Two soldiers wonder into Turkey by accident and are now being held??? Turkey and Greece are supposed to be NATO allies. What good is NATO if this kind of stuff is allowed to happen? It's not like it's the North and South on the Korean border.

I am well aware of the animosity between Greece and Turkey but this is outrageous.

[House Atreides]

Expel Turkey from NATO

[map]

Turkey has regressed. It should be asked to exit NATO or be expelled.

[Gay State Conservative]

Someone help me out here...is it Turkey that’s supposed to be a Western ally?

[BBell]

I thought so but I’m not sure anymore. I think they think that they do not need any allies.

[BenLurkin]

Am I reading this right.....the Turks grabbed some Greek soldiers solely for the purpose of holding them hostage?

[BBell]

That's how I'm reading it. Two Greek soldiers wonder into Turkish territory so the Turkish authorities snatched the soldiers up so that they can use them for political purposes.

Sounds like the cold war doesn't it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Why should we care about the Greeks? Were they there for us during the cold war? What about when the Russians shot down Flt. 007? The only thing they’re good for is taking it up the ass.

[VeniVidiVici]

Thanks for the dumbest ass comment of the night.

[BBell]

What are you talking about? Flight 007? Cold war?

[Alas Babylon!]

Dude, are you drinking your supper?

[MarvinStinson]

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece said:

“There was an unacceptable connection made between the Greek officers who were arbitrarily detained, and Turkish citizens who came to Greece, and requested asylum. Because Greece implemented - I emphasize this - implemented international law, it was granted. These are two totally different cases and any confusion is unthinkable”

[MarvinStinson]

Posted from the basement of the Turkish embassy.

[SunkenCiv]

The Three Amigos

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan meet in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017. (photo credit: SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS)

[SunkenCiv]

Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan said he would consider releasing the soldiers if eight Turkish servicemen, who sought assylum in Greece following the failed 2016 coup attempt, were sent home first. Athens has described this as "blackmail", with the Defence Ministry describing the soldiers as "hostages", and the Greek Supreme Court has sided with the government... The Turkish authorities have kept the two Greek soldiers in pre-trial detention in a prison in Edirne since they wandered onto Turkish terroritory by accident in March. No official charges have been filed against them.

Thanks BBell.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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