European Union backs Greece over Turkish Detention of Greek Soldiers

By John Carr

In a statement, the EU said the two Greek soldiers, an officer and a sergeant, were European Union citizens being held illegally after straying over the Turkish border on a routine patrol three weeks ago.  Since then they have not been charged, and the Greek government is pressing for their return.

The rebuke from Brussels is part of a wider criticism of Turkish policies deemed to be aggressive in the eastern Mediterranean.  Turkish warships are hindering international gas prospecting off Cyprus, and sending out what Greece calls aggressive naval patrols in the Aegean Sea.