Greece–Turkey relations

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Sept. 10 welcomed Greece's decision to return two Turkish soldiers after they were held for crossing over to the Greek side of the border last week.

Greece allowed two Turkish soldiers to return after they were held, when they crossed over to the Greek side of the border by mistake on Sept. 9, the Chief of General Staff said in a statement.

European Parliament lawmaker Eliza Vozemberg has asked the European Commission to look into claims by Greek fishermen that Turkish trawlers have been systematically violating Greek territorial waters.

The issue of the eight Turkish servicemen that Ankara wants extradited continue to cast a shadow over Greek-Turkish relations as was evident during Tuesday's otherwise cordial meeting between foreign ministers Nikos Kotzias and Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The two men met during the inauguration of the renovated Greek Consulate building in Izmir.

A dog that was injured after his owner dragged him behind his car in Fethiye has been adopted by the Fethiye Municipality Police Department after his treatment. Wearing a special uniform, the dog goes patrolling with municipal teams in night hours.

Turkey's foreign minister called for a new chapter in testy diplomatic ties with Greece on Saturday, even as he berated the neighboring country for providing a safe haven for Turkish "criminals."

Eight Turkish commandos are seeking asylum in Greece after commandeering a helicopter to flee Turkey following a failed coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios said on Friday that dialogue is the way to resolve problems after a reportedly fruitless meeting in Istanbul with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

An Istanbul court has given life sentences to 102 convicts including high-ranking former Turkish military officers, a judicial source told state-run Anadolu Agency on Aug. 17.

An American Christian pastor standing trial in Turkey on terrorism charges has appealed again to a Turkish court to release him from house arrest and lift his travel ban, his lawyer told Reuters on Aug. 14. 

Archbishop Demetrios of America raised the issue of religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul during a plenary meeting last week of the first Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, held at the US State Department.