Greece–Turkey relations

An application filed by a mining company to search for gold and silver mines in the Aegean resort island of Gökçeada in the northwestern Çanakkale province has been withdrawn after environmental concerns, according to a statement released by the Environment and Urbanization Ministry’s Provincial Directorate.

The Association of Judges and Prosecutors of Greece on Friday issued a statement in response to suggestions by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras should have intervened to ensure the extradition of eight military officers accused by Turkey of being part of a botched coup there last year.

The Aegean resort island of Gökçeada is on the verge of environmental damage from plans to construct a gold mine, prompting criticism from authorities and residents of the island.

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Şamil Tayyar has proposed the reconversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque, in retaliation against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a historic visit to Greece.

His two-day visit begins today and aims to speed up warming in relations between the two neighboring countries.

This is the first visit of a Turkish head of state to Greece since 1952.

Migration crisis, as well as the reunification talks of Cyprus, are expected to be discussed.

A spike in air space violations in the Aegean at the end of last week has fueled concern in defense and diplomatic circles in Greece, as authorities prepare for a visit to Athens next month by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

According to defense officials, Turkish aircraft carried out 60 violations of Greek air space on Friday.

In response to Turkish overflights over the Imia islets in the eastern Aegean on Friday and Ankara's comments regarding a joint military exercise by Greece and Egypt on the the island of Rhodes, the Greek Foreign Ministry urged Turkey to adhere to international law in a statement. 

Greece and Egypt are conducting a grand-scale exercise from October 29th to November 4th, “MEDUSA 5″. The exercise is of extreme importance as the co-operation between the two countries deepens, something that one can see with the number of weapon systems each country dedicated to the exercise.

In a sign of escalating provocations in the Aegean Sea, a Turkish military helicopter on Friday flew over the eastern Aegean Imia islets, the site of a military standoff with Ankara in 1996.

There were two flyovers at low altitude -- one at 7.59 a.m. at 30 meters and the second at 9.46 a.m. at 250 meters.

Greece rejected as "unreasonable" the claims of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlith Chavushoglu that there is no marine border between the two countries, BNR reported.