Kastellorizo

The Turkish coast guard reportedly harassed vessels of the Greek port Authority and military as they prepared on Tuesday to collect migrants and refugees on board a dinghy near the islet of Strongyli off the coast of the southeastern Aegean island of Kastellorizo.

Before we divide ourselves into "traitors" and "patriots" over whether we should resort to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to resolve issues with Turkey and many other matters, it would be a good idea to make sure we know what we are talking about. Ignorance is a dangerous thing, especially when it is found in so-called experts or just plain old know-it-alls.

The crossing of the Oruc Reis research vessel into the area of Greece's continental shelf placed authorities in Athens in a state of alert on Friday, but the Turkish vessel was seen leaving the vicinity early on Saturday.

Turkey's Oruc Reis research vessel was on Friday spotted within the boundaries of Greece's continental shelf, Kathimerini reports.
Greek frigate HS Nikiforos Fokas was dispatched to the area to monitor its activity.

Despite the political consultations in Ankara on Friday between delegations of the Greek and Turkish foreign ministries, tension continued to simmer due to a barrage of 40 airspace violations by seven Turkish fighter jets in the north and southeastern Aegean, and another challenge to Greece's sovereignty issued by a senior ranking official of the neighboring country.

After two airspace violations by Turkish fighter jets over the islet of Ro on Friday morning, a new round of incursions occurred in the afternoon over the islands of Kastelorizo, Ro and Strongyli in the eastern Aegean.

According to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), two Turkish F-16 jets flew three times over Kastelorizo, at 3.58 p.m., at 4.08 p.m. and at 4.11 p.m.

The acting director general at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Cagatay Erciyes, has posted a comment on Twitter challenging Greece's sovereign rights, with an attached photo indicating the Greek island of Kastellorizo.

The acting director general at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Cagatay Erciyes, has posted a comment on Twitter challenging Greece's sovereign rights, with an attached photo of the Greek island of Kastellorizo.

At least 658 migrants and refugees were rescued in 20 separate operations in the eastern Aegean between Friday morning and Monday morning, the Greek coast guard said.
In the same period, a total of 730 migrants and refugees landed on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Farmakonisi and Kastellorizo (or Megisti) after crossing from Turkey, the coast guard said.

People on the island of Kos, led by the mayor, prevented the disembarkation of some 75 migrants from a scheduled passenger ship early Saturday, according to Greek media reports. 

The port landing was blocked with municipal vehicles.