With Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras scheduled to visit Ankara and Istanbul on 5 and 6 February respectively, Turkey’s National Security Council issued a statement that they will continue to pursue people accused of taking part in the 2016 failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The announcement includes the eight servicemen Greek courts have repeatedly refused to extradite following numerous requests from Ankara to hand them over saying it is “unacceptable” that some countries are refraining from extraditing terror group members and are instead harbouring them. The prosecuted men fled to Greece in July 2016, arguing they would not receive a fair trial in Turkey and may be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.
The Council’s statement also warned that Ankara will “monitor closely developments in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea, and take action to protect its rights”.
Mr Tsipras will be accompanied to Turkey by Alternate Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos. On 5 February, the Greek PM will hold a joint press conference with Mr Erdogan, followed by a dinner. Mr Tsipras will be meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios the next day in Istanbul.
