Tensions return to the Aegean

Athens - Renewed tension in the Aegean Sea has shown up the lack of progress on big issues dividing Greece and Turkey and may…

Athens - Renewed tension in the Aegean Sea has shown up the lack of progress on big issues dividing Greece and Turkey and may make it harder for Athens to persuade the Greek public of the benefits of rapprochement.

Greece at the weekend withdrew from "Destined Glory", a high-profile NATO exercise that had seen Greek troops on Turkish soil for the first time in about 80 years.

The move came after a series of disagreements over the right of exercising Greek bombers to follow a flight plan over parts of the eastern Aegean. Turkey scrambled war planes to intercept the Greeks and sought to impose restrictions on the flights.