Speaking at the fifth Southern EU Countries Summit in Nicosia, Cyprus Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras recalled international law as Turkey’s provocation game goes strong.
During a speech at the southern province of Antalya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkeyu was already producing surveillance and armed drones.
“Now, we are producing a larger armed unmanned aircraft, and it will be completed in a few months,” he said, adding that his country is focusing on creating a smart bomb drone that can make drops from as high as 40,000 feet.
It will be built by Turkish air system manufacturer Baykar Maki, it will weigh around five tons, have a useful load capacity of 1.4 tons and a 24-hour non-stop flight capability.
Mr Erdogan went on to say that Ankara is only a few months away from production of the new, yet unmanned military aircraft (UAV) drones that could prove a “formidable weapon”.
“The new drone, will set an example to the world,” he stressed.
This announcement came at the same time Turkey’s F-16 fighter jets were once again violating Greek airspace and amid worries of more tension over the anniversary of the 1996 Imia incident which falls on 20 January.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar sent a letter congratulating his new Greek counterpart and former chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Evangelos Apostolakis for coming to office and invited him to visit Turkey. While the Greek Defense Ministry has not yet confirmed the invitation, Mr Tsipras prepares to travel to Constantinople on 5 February to meet with President Erdogan.
The Greek PM made only one comment following the smart drone announcement:
“All seven (leaders) agree that relations of each separate country and the EU’s with Turkey must be based on mutual respect and respect for international law.”
