Turkish media were triggered by the statements made by the head of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), General Konstantinos Floros, which were said to mark Monday’s Armed Forces Day celebration.
General Floros pointed out that Greece wishes and works for peace, but “whoever makes the fatal mistake of ‘coming’, should know in advance that they will find in front of them a new Marathon, a new Salamis and a new 731.”
“I am sure that the Greek Arms will be glorified once more, giving the good fight, as so many times in the past,” he added.
Turkish media took General Floros’ clear warning as a “provocation” and a “threat”, describing it as “scandalous” and linking it to recent military operations of the Turkish armed forces in the north of Syria and Iraq.
“Operation Claw-Sword, launched by the Turkish Armed Forces, caused panic in Greece. Scandalous threats against Turkey were made by the Chief of the General Staff of Greece, General Konstantinos Floros. Floros also mentioned a war thousands of years ago,” commented the Sabah newspaper under the title “Challenges Turkey: Anyone who makes the fatal mistake is ‘to come’.”
“The A/GEETHA of Greece has threatened Turkey” is the title of the Sözcü newspaper article. “While Turkey was carrying out air operations against Syria and Iraq, the Chief of the General Staff of Greece, General Konstantinos Floros, threatened Turkey with his statements,” the article said.
“He challenged Turkey: ‘Whoever makes the fatal mistake to come’,” Milliyet writes, noting “with the support of the US and France, the Chief of the General Staff of Greece, without mentioning the name of Turkey on Armed Forces Day, said ‘Whoever makes the fatal mistake of coming will face a new Marathon, a new Salamis and a new 731. Know this in advance’.”
“The Claw-Sword operation shook Athens: Scandalous statements of the Greek Chief of Staff Floros,” writes the TGRT Haber network. “Making a big impression on the world public opinion, the operation ‘Claw-Sword’, launched by Turkey in the north of Syria and Iraq – after the treacherous attack in Taksim, the Greek Chief of Staff Floros reacted to comments that these operations are a message to the Athens.”
“Floros, who in the past has been mentioned many times in Turkey, said that those who are thinking of declaring war on Greece will be faced with a new Marathon,” the publication wrote.
“The Chief of the General Staff of Greece, General Konstantinos Floros, overstepped his bounds. In his speech on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day celebration, Floros made references to Turkey saying ‘Let them decide to come whenever they want’,” writes Akşam newspaper, pointing out in the headline that “the neighbour is playing with fire”, meaning Greece.
“Athens is playing with fire! Scandalous threat to Turkey by the Greek GEETHA Commander Floros” reports a publication of the TRT Haber network, commenting that the “Claw-Sword” operation shook and disturbed Greece and led to the statements by General Floros.