Tension rises between Ankara, Athens after Turkish patrol boat rams Greek vessel

Duvar English

The Greek Coast Guard said March 11 that one of its patrol boats was rammed by a Turkish Coast Guard vessel close to the island of Kos, amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

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No one was injured in the incident, which occurred in the early morning, and the damage caused to the Greek boat was only minor, the Greek Coast Guard added.

Athens' Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador in protest.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also summoned Greek Ambassador to Ankara Michael-Christos Diamessis, calling on Greece "to end violations of the Turkish waters."

The ministry also urged the Greek side to release the detained journalists, who had reported about the humanitarian situation of asylum seekers in Lesbos and Rhodes islands.

Greece and Turkey have been at odds over Ankara's decision to not prevent asylum seekers from trying to enter the European Union.

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The announcement prompted thousands to mass at the border and attempt to cross the Aegean.

Greek riot police have been deployed to hold back thousands of migrants at the land border with Turkey, using tear gas. Turkey has claimed that Greek police opened fire on migrants.

Both sides have accused each other of making false accusations.

Last week, the Greek Coast Guard released a video which it said showed a Turkish patrol boat in dangerously close pursuit of one of its vessels.

Earlier, the Turkish Coast Guard had put out a video which appears to show a Greek Coast Guard vessel repelling an inflatable dinghy full of migrants, in violation of rescue rules.