Press Release 10.11.2021
10.11.2021
According to the statements made by the Greek Minister of Shipping and Island Policy and the Greek Coast Guard Command, groundless allegations were asserted that a rubber boat that carried a large number of irregular migrants entered the territorial waters of Greece accompanied by Turkish Coast Guard Boats and that Turkish Coast Guard Boats harassed the Greek Coast Guard assets.
Regarding the incident that is claimed to have happened on 09 November 2021;
At 09.00 a.m., it was determined that there was a rubber boat that carries irregular migrants in Greek territorial waters which was off the coast of Dikili district of İzmir province and aforementioned boat was tried to be pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by creating waves by the Greek Coast Guard assets.
Despite all the radio calls made to them, the Greek Coast Guard assets pushed back the irregular migrants into Turkish territorial waters instead of rescuing them, and a total of 32 irregular migrants in the rubber boat were rescued by Turkish Coast Guard Boats.
The violation of Turkish territorial waters during the maneuvers of the Greek assets to push back the irregular migrants was prevented by the maneuvers of the Turkish Coast Guard assets.
It is also understood from the news link which is published below that the photograph published by the Greek Coast Guard Command on the official website together with the alleged information about the incident was used on 02 April 2021 and does not reflect the reality.
Video of the incident is presented in the link below.
The Turkish Coast Guard Command carries out its duties continuously on a 7 days and 24 hours basis, within the scope of both national and international rules of law, in order to prevent irregular migration.
Despite all the efforts made by the Turkish Coast Guard Command, the Greek assets pushed back irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea, in most of these pushbacks, irregular migrants were subjected to inhuman treatment, their valuables were taken, they were beaten, their hands were handcuffed, and they were put on extremely unseaworthy lifeboats into the sea. There have been many incidents where they were left to drift into Turkish territorial waters and even thrown directly into the sea without a life jacket. These events, which were also reflected in migrant testimonies, were recorded many times by international press organizations and found wide coverage in the press all over the world.
The Turkish Coast Guard Command is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist anyone in need at sea, respecting human rights and the law.
Respectfully announced to the public.
© 2022 Turkish Coast Guard Command