ANKARA, Oct 23 (AFP) - Turkey on Saturday denied allegations of violating Greek airspace and territorial waters saying exercises by its airforce and navy were nothing more than routine manoeuvres.
"We find it unfair that information on normal activities conforming to international law are presented as a source of tensions in the Agean Sea," the Turkish foreign ministry said quoted by the Anatolia news agency.
The statement said Turkish ships and planes had been carrying out training operations in the Agean Sea, and they did not amount to "extraordinary activities" but were just routine.
The Greek defence ministry Friday accused Turkey of violating its airspace and territorial waters, hinting Ankara was jeopardising its chances of European Union membership.
According to the Greek armed forces six Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft intruded into Greek airspace in seven incidents during Friday morning.
Two of them overflew a marine firing range near the island of Andros where two Greek warships were deployed.
The armed forces also said that for a third consecutive day a Turkish coastal patrol vessel had entered Greek waters near the uninhabited islets and rocks of Imia, scene of a military standoff in 1996 when Turkey claimed sovereignty over them.
The crisis was eventually resolved by the intervention of the then US president Bill Clinton.
10/23/2004 12:27 GMT - AFP