ANKARA - Admiral Mucahit Sislioglu, head of Turkish General Staff's Department of Relations With Greece and Cyprus, said on Monday that Greek Land Forces Commander Gen. Nikolaos Ntouvas apologized in his letter (addressed to Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit) for the inappropriate incident that took place in Greek War Academy.
Defense correspondents were informed the same day about the desecration of Turkish flag on which there were ugly and dirty terms and which was left in the room of Turkish officers and students who were visiting Greek War Academy.
Reminding the press release issued by the General Staff on April 16th, 2005 about the flag incident, Admiral Sislioglu said that Turkish General Staff asked Greek authorities to apologize officially and to punish the perpetrators. He added that Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok also expressed those demands of Turkey in his speech on April 20th, 2005.
Sislioglu said that Gen. Ntouvas's letter arrived at General Staff on April 22nd, 2005 adding ''Greek Land Forces Commander apologized for this inappropriate incident which had to be denounced in his letter noting that he ordered the start of an investigation to find the perpetrators. He stressed that the Greek military court was examining the issue and the most severe punishment would be given.''
''We welcome the sensitive attitude of the Greek Land Forces Commander and we believe that the perpetrators would be found as soon as possible and punished,'' Admiral Sislioglu said.