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| Europe |
| Turkish ex-PM admits Turks set fires in Greece: intentional sabotage |
| 2011-12-30 |
| Greek politicians reacted angrily on Monday following the admission by former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz that Turkish secret agents intentionally started forest fires in Greece in the 1990s as part of state-sponsored sabotage. According to Yilmaz, who served as premier three times in the 1990s, agents of the Turkish secret service set fire to Greek forests during the leadership of his archrival Tansu Ciller, from 1995 to 1998. During that period major forest fires caused huge damage on the islands of the eastern Aegean and in Macedonia. The news sparked political outrage Greece on Monday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said the claims were “serious and must be investigated,” adding that Athens was awaiting a briefing from Ankara. Conservative New Democracy’s shadow foreign minister Panos Panayiotopoulos said the revelations “cast heavy shadows over Greek-Turkish relations” and called on Turkey recompense Greece for losses incurred. Giorgos Karatzaferis, the leader of the right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), was indignant and triumphant, noting that he had been accused of extremism when as an MP he had accused Turkish secret agents of arson in Greece. “Now, from the lips of former Turkish premier, we have an admission to the crime,” he said. |
| Posted by: |
| #4 Duh, because the Greeks are in a world of misery. So a nice fight would be good. Just ask a Red Wings fan -- like me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl2xMXXOw4M This is what they came for! Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie... ok, so, umm, what? You say I am broke? Let's see the video again! My team rocks!!! |
| Posted by: rammer 2011-12-30 23:20 |
| #3 Interesting question, TW. |
| Posted by: lotp 2011-12-30 16:28 |
| #2 Why would the former Turkish PM suddenly accuse his old rival now? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-12-30 14:50 |
| #1 I remember getting stuck in a bar sitting next to a Greek officer, when a grinning Brit asked him a leading question about Turkey. I had been set up. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-12-30 09:53 |