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Madeleine's visit to Turkey was like an adrenaline rush to Greek President Konstantin Stefanopoulos, which made him feel good at once. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoSince last year, Greece and Turkey have been in dispute and conflict over the Imia Islands, and have even repeatedly triggered the Imia crisis.

It all started back in December 1995 when a Turkish freighter ran aground on the island of Imia in an accident. Because of the sovereignty between Greece and Turkey, the Turkish captain clashed with the rescue team of the Greek island of Crete, and the two countries began to fight over the ownership of the island.

Shortly after the grounding, Turkey officially claimed sovereignty over the island. At the beginning of 1996, the events on the island of Imia were widely concerned in Greece. On 26 January 1996, the Greek side planted the Greek flag on the island for the first time. Turkish journalists then arrived on the island by helicopter to pull down the Greek flag and plant it with the Turkish flag. Within 24 hours, the Greek Navy arrived and pulled out the Turkish flag. This led to a fierce reaction from the two governments, with the two navies sounding the alarm and heading towards the island at the same time. This was also the beginning of the Imia crisis. Later, the helicopter on board the Greek destroyer Navarino accidentally crashed while on its way to the small island of Imia for reconnaissance, and Greece believed that it was shot down by Turkey, causing tensions between the two countries.

Subsequently, the United States intervened to mediate the dispute between the two countries because it was worried about NATO's internal strife, but in fact it also sided with Greece, and the European Union also stood on the side of Greece, and warned Turkey not to act rashly, which made Turkey very passive. The two countries took the matter to the International Court of Justice, but there was still no result, and Greece was unwilling to be deflated and kept looking for an opportunity to retaliate, which also led to the crisis incident when the Greek Mirage 2000 shot down the Turkish F16. Although the Turkish side claims that the cause of the mechanical failure is the cause, those who know the conflict know that the F16 was actually shot down by the Greek Air Force.

Now the United States has come to show solidarity with the Greek government, which suddenly makes Stefanopoulos feel like he has met a savior. Especially after seeing Secretary of State Madeleine, who is known as a political hawk, President Stefanopoulos felt this way even more.

Stefanopoulos poured bitter water on Secretary of State Madeleine and played the sad card, "Turkey has not relented after the F16 fighter accident, but has used political bargaining chips on the Imia issue, if the Cyprus issue is tolerated by Turkey, then on the issue of safeguarding Greek sovereignty, we will definitely not tolerate Turkey's misdeeds." ”

After saying that, Stefanopoulos also waved his fist a few times to express his indignation. The issue of sovereignty has always been the most important and important thing for Turkey, and in their eyes, the entire Aegean Sea has been Turkey's inalienable and sacred territory since ancient times.

"The United States has never taken a weak and compromising approach to helping Greece resolve the issue of the coastline."

As soon as Madeleine spoke, she revealed a strong political hawkish style, "As you can see, the United States will absolutely not allow the emergence of a second pro-Soviet country within the Black Sea, and the other side is still one of the important allies of NATO. This is a nightmare for the United States, NATO, and even Europe. Turkey under Mazyer's control, like the resurgent Ottoman Empire, carries a deep hostility towards the West. This is not what the United States wants to see. ”

"Yes, so on the issue of Simia, I hope that the United States will ......," said President Stefanopoulos, who hoped that the United States would support Greece and snatch back the island of Imia from the Turks.

"Rest assured, the United States will definitely be on the side of Turkey." Madeleine smiled and said, "After all, the enemy of Greece is the enemy of the United States." How can we allow our enemies to attack their allies? ”

This is Madeleine's first visit to the most beautiful presidential palace in the Greek peninsula, with red drapery and marble-relief walls, as well as gold stucco sconces that give off a soft glow. The dazzling and dazzling light emitted by the dazzling crystal chandelier is as dazzling as the large diamonds that hang from the ceiling.

She visited the palace, which served as the presidential palace of Greece, while answering questions from Stefanopoulos. High heels gently step on the red carpet, and a small sound of shattering occurs.

Secretary of State Madeleine turned her head and said to Stefanopoulos in a serious manner, "Hasn't the Greek government heard about Turkey lately?" ”

Stefanopoulos frowned and asked softly, "You mean the incident of the visit of Turkish Acting President Mazyer to Moscow?" Isn't this known to the whole world? ”

Madeleine paused, shook her head helplessly, and immediately corrected President Stefanopoulos's statement, "Not to Moscow, but to visit the Soviet military base in Sevastopol, which is the focus of our conversation." ”

"Sevastopol military base?" Stefanopoulos chewed a little on the implied information in Madeleine's words, and suddenly his face changed suddenly, and he asked cautiously, "You mean the Turkish side's purchase of five Soviet Spider-class missile boats?" According to the Soviet Union, it is possible for Turkey to buy Soviet Kasin-class missile destroyers in the future. Once such ships are equipped with Turkey, they will pose a significant threat to the Greek Navy. ”

As early as 1991 and 1992, the Greek Navy imported four Adams-class guided missile destroyers from the United States into service, after which the Greek Navy renamed them the Kimon-class and became the main warships of the Greek Navy. Since then, the Turkish Navy has also been active, and the Turkish Navy purchased eight Knox-class missile frigates from the United States from 1993 to 1994 because the Adams-class destroyers on the American side are too old and have been sold out. Thus began the arms race between the Greek Navy and the Turkish Navy in the nineties.

"Turkey's purchase of poisonous spider missile boats, the purchase of Kasin-class missile destroyers, is actually not the point." Secretary of State Madeleine held out a finger, shook it in front of him, and said, "If they buy the Soviet Glory-class cruisers, will the Greek Navy still have the strength to compete?" ”

The corners of Stefanopoulos's mouth twitched, if the Black Sea monster like the Glorious-class cruiser joined the Turkish Navy, then it could really be a catastrophe for the Greek army.

What if Turkey goes up the drain to buy the Dreadnought? The Greek Navy simply could not imagine.

Secretary Madeleine admired Stefanopoulos' uncertain complexion, believing that her sensational remarks had made Stefanopoulos' scalp tingle. As long as the Turkish president is suppressed, then the next series of military negotiations and cooperation will become easy.

Stephanopoulos recovered from the shock and nervously asked, "So are there any other U.S. ships for sale recently?" I think the Greek Navy needs to strengthen itself. ”

Madeleine was waiting for Stefanopoulos's words, she coughed lightly, and hurriedly threw out the words she had already organized.

"Of course, Honorable President Stefanopoulos. The United States is recently selling Perry-class frigates. A total of 8 ships, which were originally intended for sale to the Turkish Navy. But I think the Greek Navy needs them more now. Secretary Madeleine explained, "The eight Perry-class frigates will be part of a life extension program called Genesis and will be renamed the Perry-class G-class frigates when refitted." This frigate will be the most modernly modified and upgraded of the Perry-class and its derivatives in service in the world. They will even be equipped with MK41 vertical launch systems and ESSM anti-aircraft missiles, similar to those of Australia's Adelaide-class frigates. Simply a frigate designed for the issue of the islands of the Aegean Sea. ”

Stefanopoulos's eyes lit up, and at first he was worried that the United States would sell the old Adams destroyers to Greece in the same way that they sold the old Adams destroyers, but now it seems that these Perry-class frigates are far more than twice as good as the original Adams. And the addition of eight Perry-class frigates to the Greek Navy will form a huge combat power that will be breathtaking.

"Of the eight Perry-class frigates, one was given to the Greek Navy by the U.S. Navy as a gift, and the remaining seven will be sold to the Greek government. ”

In the previous agreement with the Turkish government, three modernized Perry-class ships were originally transferred to the Turkish government free of charge, and now the U.S. government is giving away an old Perry-class that is about to be retired to the Greek Navy, and the remaining seven modernized and converted ones will be sold as usual.

"But I'm afraid that the Turkish side won't be able to digest so many ships at once." President Stefanopoulos said worriedly that the Greek economy is not doing well now due to the ongoing impact of the global economic crisis in 1991. Trying to digest eight frigates at once, the funding of the Navy is a little difficult.

Madeleine smiled and comforted him, "It doesn't matter, these eight frigates can be sold to your government in three installments, the time is divided into four to six years, we are not an unreasonable country, if the Greek government can't afford so much money for the time being, the United States can appropriately cut some unnecessary expenses." ”

"I believe that when the Greek Navy has this new batch of Perry-class frigates, it will be far superior to the Turkish Navy in terms of combat capabilities." When the time comes, with the support of the United States, will President Stefanopoulos still worry about the sovereignty of the tiny island of Imia? ”

Stefanopoulos, provoked by Madeleine, first came up with the idea of recovering all the islands and reefs. (To be continued.) )