“We have never sought troubles or crises in the Aegean. It is just that we need to maintain a certain level of training for our air force,” Başbuğ told reporters in Ankara late on Wednesday, stating that the training flights are already kept to a minimum. “The pilots need to fly for a certain number of hours to remain prepared for battle. There would be no point in keeping airplanes if your pilots do not fly.”Başbuğ said some of those flights have to be over the sea and said flights over the Mediterranean and the Aegean, where Turkey has territorial disputes with Greece, are thus indispensable.
Başbuğ’s remarks came days after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed more than 20 agreements in Athens with the Greek government in a number of areas ranging from immigration to tourism, but there was no announcement of any deal on trimming defense expenditures despite earlier statements from both countries welcoming such a measure amid a severe financial crisis in Greece. Observers say mutual defense cuts will be difficult unless both countries find a way to reach an understanding over their territorial disputes in the Aegean.
Greece asserts that its airspace extends 16 kilometers out to sea, but Turkey recognizes only 10 kilometers, the same distance as territorial waters. Greece often sends its fighter jets to intercept Turkish aircraft, mostly on training flights over the Aegean, saying they are violating its airspace. But Turkey insists the flights are over international waters. In 2006, a Greek pilot died after a deadly dogfight with a Turkish F-16.
Unarmed flights?
Başbuğ said he recently discussed measures to build confidence between the two neighbors with his Greek counterpart and, since most of the mistrust stems from activities of the air forces of the two countries, he proposed switching to unarmed training flights in order to avoid unwanted incidents. “I have said we will be able to reduce tensions if we end armed flights. He said he would consider this,” Başbuğ said of his meeting with his Greek counterpart on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels two weeks ago. He said Turkish military aircraft already fly unarmed on their training missions over the Aegean and that only a small number of planes protecting them are allowed to fly armed.
In a further sign of military backing for the government’s drive to improve its ties with Greece, Başbuğ also said he would be happy to visit Greece if he receives an invitation.
