TURKEY: GREEK TROOPS LAND ON TURKISH SOIL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 80 YEARS IN JOINT NATO EXERCISES

Record ID: 344958

  • Title: TURKEY: GREEK TROOPS LAND ON TURKISH SOIL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 80 YEARS IN JOINT NATO EXERCISES
  • Date: 12th October 2000
  • Summary: DOGANBEY NEAR IZMIR, TURKEY, OCTOBER 11, 2000 (REUTERS) 1. LV WAR SHIP AT SEA WITH HELICOPTERS HOVERING OVERHEAD 0.07 2. SLV LINE OF RUBBER DINGHIES ON BEACH; AV GREEK ARMY HELICOPTERS; MV GROUP OF SOLDIERS; SLV GREEK ARMY HELICOPTERS LANDING AT DOGANBEY, TURKEY (3 SHOTS) 0.32 3. SLV GREEK SOLDIERS ARRIVING RUNNING AND TAKING UP POSITIONS; AV HELICOPTERS TAKING OFF (2 SHOTS) 0.49 4. SLV GREEK SOLDIERS ON MANOEUVRE; SCU SOLDIER LOOKING THROUGH GUN SIGHT (9 SHOTS) 2.02 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK ARMY MAJOR DODAS: "I have to tell you that I'm glad to be here, I feel like I'm at home. I enjoy the Turkish hospitality." 2.10 6. SCU SOLDIER LYING ON GROUND LOOKING THROUGH THE SIGHT OF RIFLE; MV SOLDIER LOOKING THROUGH SIGHT OF RIFLE; SCU SOLDIERS CAMOUFLAGED FACE (3 SHOTS) 2.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DOGANBEY NEAR IZMIR, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA7UMNYQEY3JK436F6SHBO71C08
  • Story Text: Greek troops have landed on Turkish soil for the
    first time in nearly eight decades to be greeted by dozens of
    television cameramen who recorded their every step in joint
    NAT0 exercises.

    Eight helicopters on Wednesday (October 11) disgorged
    some 50 Greek soldiers in bright sunshine on the shores of
    Doganbey, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) from the port city of
    Izmir on Turkey's Aegean coast.

    The landing was part of NATO's "Destined Glory" amphibious
    exercise.

    The manoeuvres, which included air and naval troops from
    Germany, France, the United States and other NATO members,
    highlight a rapprochement between two countries whose bitter
    rivalry has often threatened to undermine the military
    alliance.

    Greek troops, dodging cameramen who outnumbered them
    during their landing, said they felt none of the animosity
    that led the two countries to the brink of war over a tiny
    uninhabited Aegean island in 1996.

    "I have to tell you that I'm glad to be here," said a
    Greek soldier identifying himself as Major Dodas. "I feel like
    I'm at home. I enjoy the Turkish hospitality."
    Disputes over territory, as well the divided island of
    Cyprus, have bred mutual suspicion between Turkey and Greece.

    Recent negotiations between the Greek and Turkish foreign
    ministers on low-key issues has boosted confidence, as did an
    outpouring of mutual sympathy and aid when earthquakes hit
    both countries last year.

    Greek foreign minister George Papandreou and his Turkish
    counterpart Ismail Cem are due to meet in Marmaris in Turkey
    and Rhodes in Greece this weekend.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register