2 Greek soldiers released from Turkish jail return to Greece

[Dante80]

2 Greek soldiers released from Turkish jail return to Greece
By The Associated Press - Paphitis reported from Athens. AP writer Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Two Greek soldiers facing espionage charges in Turkey are due to fly home early on Wednesday after a provincial court released them, in a ruling Athens said would help to improve strained ties between the two NATO allies. Angelos Mitretodis (L) and Dimitris Kouklatzis, two Greek soldiers who were detained in Turkey after crossing the border, are welcomed by their parents after being released, at the airport of Thessaloniki, Greece, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis​

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Two Greek soldiers freed after months in a Turkish prison returned to their home country by government jet early Wednesday after their unexpected release eased tensions between the neighbors and historical rivals. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said he phoned his Turkish counterpart to express his satisfaction with the soldiers’ release and invite him to visit Greece.“I hope that their release ... will herald a new day in Greek-Turkish relations,” Kammenos told reporters. “We can live together peacefully, for the benefit of both our peoples.”

The soldiers, an army junior officer and a sergeant, were met by Kammenos, the army chief of staff and an honor guard after their arrival before dawn at the airport in the northern city of Thessaloniki. “All I want to say is thank you,“2nd Lieutenant Angelos Mitretodis told reporters. The men were arrested on March 1 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greece strongly protested their long detention in the western town of Edirne, arguing that they had strayed across during a patrol amid poor visibility due to bad weather.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed their release as “an act of justice,” and provided the jet he uses on official foreign journeys to bring them back. “(Their release) will contribute to strengthening friendship, good neighborly relations and stability in the region,” Tsipras said in a statement. “I want to congratulate and thank (the two men) and their families for their fortitude, patience and trust in our efforts, which were finally justified.” The men’s arrest had considerably strained Greek-Turkish relations. Kammenos, the defense minister, had claimed that they were being held “hostage” by Turkey, which is trying to secure the extradition of eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece after the 2016 failed military coup in Turkey.

Ankara accuses its servicemen of involvement in the coup, but Greek courts have refused to extradite them, arguing they would not get a fair trial in Turkey and their lives would be in danger there. The two Greeks were released Tuesday pending the outcome of their trial by a Turkish court. Turkey’s state Anadolu Agency said that in a court hearing to review a request for their release the two said in their defense that they had crossed the border by mistake.

2nd Lieutenant Mitretodis’ father told the AP that his son had shown great strength in prison. “My wife phoned and told me the news, and at once I called the Greek consul (in Edirne) and confirmed that the lads have been set free,” Nikos Mitretodis said. “They didn’t do anything wrong, and they spent a long time in prison. But they were strong during all that time, and remain strong, they have to be.” “I want to thank everyone for their solidarity — the media, our political leadership, the Church and anonymous people who stood by us,” he added.

 

[GHALIB]

good gesture.

 

[rajvoSa]

Now we know what Qatari official was doing in Greece few days ago. My bet is mediating the realese.

 

[kartal1]

Now we know what Qatari official was doing in Greece few days ago. My bet is mediating the realese.

Today the Qatari Emir is in Turkey.

 

[rajvoSa]

Today the Qatari Emir is in Turkey.

just saw the pic, along with Qatari financial minister

also

https://twitter.com/x/status/1029462232848125952

 

[TrMhMt]

If we don't get the putschists who fled to Greece back, this is an another sample of that how weak Türkiye is.

 

[rajvoSa]

If we don't get the putschists who fled to Greece back, this is an another sample of that how weak Türkiye is.

Bro, I think you should look this in context of recent US - Turkey row. My undertanding is that this has to do with Turkey wishing to recalibrate its relations with EU, its biggest trading partner and one that can help to offset much of potenatial harm of US economic preassure. It no secret that much of EU, esspecially Germany and France doesnt look foundly on Trumps tariffs policy, sactions and iranian deal. No coincidence that Juncker gave this stanment imidiatly after. Later today Merkel - Erdogan call is sheduled as is meetign between germanys treasury minister and turkish counterpart. Also, I think there's a bit of trolling US, by relissing Greek soldiers, amnesty international guy, same day as refusal of Brunsons apeal.

 

[Islamic faith&Secularism]

Another mistake given the occupied islands, West Thrace oppression, FETÖ criminals, PKK/DHKP-C support, Cyprus/Mediterranean oil reserves, The EU veto, Church title etc.

 

[Adıvar]

Question: The soldiers committed crime or not?

 

[turkaholic]

Question: The soldiers committed crime or not?

It appears that they crossed the border illegally and were detained by the Turkish armed forces.

 

[NickGr]

It appears that they crossed the border illegally and were detained by the Turkish armed forces.

That's the whole story, at some part of the borders there wasn't any fence or something so that one can easily distinct in which territory he's in, especially during bad weather(fog, rain, etc). Incidents like these happened again in the past many times and they were solved each time at the army commander level responsible in the region, turkish military had passed the greek borders by mistake in the past, greeks had done it too and the turkish commander or its greek counterpart were sending them back home.

No spy story at all, one would be a total fool to go spy on another country wearing a uniform and carrying a weapon in his hands.

 

[Yatağanlı]

That's the whole story, at some part of the borders there wasn't any fence or something so that one can easily distinct in which territory he's in, especially during bad weather(fog, rain, etc). Incidents like these happened again in the past many times and they were solved each time at the army commander level responsible in the region, turkish military had passed the greek borders by mistake in the past, greeks had done it too and the turkish commander or its greek counterpart were sending them back home.

No spy story at all, one would be a total fool to go spy on another country wearing a uniform and carrying a weapon in his hands.

You are prob right, but Turley is pissed because Greece doesn't want to extradite the soldiers who committed the coup.

 

[kartal1]

That's the whole story, at some part of the borders there wasn't any fence or something so that one can easily distinct in which territory he's in, especially during bad weather(fog, rain, etc). Incidents like these happened again in the past many times and they were solved each time at the army commander level responsible in the region, turkish military had passed the greek borders by mistake in the past, greeks had done it too and the turkish commander or its greek counterpart were sending them back home.

No spy story at all, one would be a total fool to go spy on another country wearing a uniform and carrying a weapon in his hands.

The reason they were in jail for a military espionage was that they had photos on their phones and were going to show them to their commander. No important military installations as far as I know just photos. This fact together with the political situation and the will of Greece not to extradite terrorists and participants in the coup made the crisis so serious.