Αrt2387 Πέμπτη 2 Φεβρουαρίου 2017
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
96-140 F
Updated March 7, 1996
Greece and Turkey: The Rocky Islet Crisis Carol Migdalovitz Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division Summary
The dispute between Greece and Turkey over the sovereignty of Imia/Kardak islet escalated rapidly because bilateral relations are hampered by historic distrust and unresolved issues, and
because both countries have weak governments. Each marshalled legal arguments to support its position. The United States acted to defuse the crisis and restore the status quo ante, but some State Department comments complicated U.S.- Greek relations. In the aftermath, a politically damaged Greek government temporarily distanced itself from the United States and sought support from its European Union partners.
The crisis did not affect efforts to form a government in Turkey, which sought to counter Greece’s moves in Europe. Crisis Chronology On December 25, 1995, a Turkish cargo ship went aground on a small, uninhabited, rocky islet, about 10 acres in size, that Greeks call Imia and Turks call Kardak. Previously, no nation’s flag flew there and no military forces were present. The ship’s captain initially refused assistance from Greece because, he said, the islet was Turkish. The mayor of a neighboring Greek island raised his national flag on Imia. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry addressed a note to the Embassy of Greece, asserting that the islet was Turkish. Greece rejected the claim. Greek and Turkish media trumpeted the incident later in January. On January 28, Turkish journalists landed on the islet, lowered a Greek flag, and hoisted a Turkish standard. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry disapproved of the journalists’ action and called for problems to be solved through diplomatic channels. Athens protested to the Turkish ambassador,saying thatImiawas Greek. Later that day, Greek Navy commandos lowered the Turkish flag and restored that of Greece. Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis warned, “Our response to this and any other aggressive nationalism ... will be strong,
www.fotavgeia.blogspot.com
Greece and Turkey: The Rocky Islet Crisis Carol Migdalovitz Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division Summary
The dispute between Greece and Turkey over the sovereignty of Imia/Kardak islet escalated rapidly because bilateral relations are hampered by historic distrust and unresolved issues, and
because both countries have weak governments. Each marshalled legal arguments to support its position. The United States acted to defuse the crisis and restore the status quo ante, but some State Department comments complicated U.S.- Greek relations. In the aftermath, a politically damaged Greek government temporarily distanced itself from the United States and sought support from its European Union partners.
The crisis did not affect efforts to form a government in Turkey, which sought to counter Greece’s moves in Europe. Crisis Chronology On December 25, 1995, a Turkish cargo ship went aground on a small, uninhabited, rocky islet, about 10 acres in size, that Greeks call Imia and Turks call Kardak. Previously, no nation’s flag flew there and no military forces were present. The ship’s captain initially refused assistance from Greece because, he said, the islet was Turkish. The mayor of a neighboring Greek island raised his national flag on Imia. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry addressed a note to the Embassy of Greece, asserting that the islet was Turkish. Greece rejected the claim. Greek and Turkish media trumpeted the incident later in January. On January 28, Turkish journalists landed on the islet, lowered a Greek flag, and hoisted a Turkish standard. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry disapproved of the journalists’ action and called for problems to be solved through diplomatic channels. Athens protested to the Turkish ambassador,saying thatImiawas Greek. Later that day, Greek Navy commandos lowered the Turkish flag and restored that of Greece. Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis warned, “Our response to this and any other aggressive nationalism ... will be strong,
www.fotavgeia.blogspot.com
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