Turkish admiral warns Greek counterpart against sinking migrant boats

ANKARA

A Turkish admiral has shown footage of a migrant boat being sunk on the Aegean Sea by a Greek Coast Guard boat to a Greek Coast Guard commander, urging them to refrain from such acts, daily Hürriyet reported on Nov. 19.

Turkish Coast Guard Cmdr. Rear Adm. Hakan Üstem showed a video captured by the Turkish Coast Guard to Greek Coast Guard Cmdr. Athanasios Athanasopulos showing the sinking of a migrant dinghy with a pricking tool used by a Greek Coast Guard boat during a rescue operation.

“We would be very pleased if you order your team to refrain from such acts,” Cmdr. Rear Adm. Üstem said to his Greek counterpart, adding many migrants had said their dinghies were sunk by Greek military vessels.

Shocked by the footage, Cmdr. Anthanasopulos vowed to take the necessary measures on the issue.