Greece calls for Romania's support to release Greek soldiers from Turkey

Greece has called today for Romania's support for the release of two Greek militaries detained in a Turkish prison. The two soldiers, an officer and a non-commissioned officer, were detained after crossing the border in Turkey during bad weather. The two have been detained after crossing the Greek-Turkish border and then arrested, being charged with espionage. Talks in the Court of Edirne, Turkish city near the Greek border, have been attended by Greek diplomats, Anadolu Turkish news agency said. Turkish judges rejected the request for the release of the two Greek militaries.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, currently in Bucharest for an official visit, urged his Romanian counterpart Mihai Fifor to involve Romania in order to obtain from Turkey the release of the two soldiers, part of the Greek Armed Forces.

Panos Kammenos: "I have informed the Romanian Defense Minister about this unpleasant incident we have with Turkey ... In a prison in Turkey, there are two Greek hostages: an officer and a non-commissioned officer. I request the support of the Romanian Defense Minister for the immediate release of these Greek, NATO and EU soldiers".

The two militaries were detained last week near the northeastern border of Greece after they entered the Turkish side while patrolling during bad weather, according to the Greek Army Command. The militaries said they were taking snow traces, possibly left by migrants, and crossed the border accidentally. The Greek Government said the same, and Greek officials called for the soldiers to be sent back.

Turkey has demanded the extradition of eight officers who fled to Greece after a failed coup in 2016. A dispute in the eastern Mediterranean about exploration of natural gas also remains a problem between the two NATO allies having tense relations.

Turkish Government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said about the two soldiers that no request for exchange was made by any of the parties, Anadolu Turkish governmental news agency reported.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei