Tension near Imia after Greek, Turkish coast guard boats collide
A Greek and a Turkish
Coast Guard boat collided near the rocky islets of Imia in the Aegean Sea on
Wednesday morning when the Turkish vessel rammed the Greek one which was
patrolling the area, according to the Greek Coast Guard on Wednesday.
The Greek newly-built
Rafnar type speedboat suffered some damages, according to sources that did not
specify their extent.
The Greek Coast Guard
said the boat was operating inside Greece’s territorial waters.
On Thursday, the
Turkish Coast Guard presented a different version of the events, arguing that
two Greek fishing boats entered Turkish territorial waters near Kardak, as the
islets are known in Turkish, which were pushed back with manoeuvring by four of
its vessels.
The Greek Coast Guard
is expected to announce more details on Thursday.
Greece and Turkey came to the brink of war in 1996 due to a sovereignty dispute over the islets.
