Imia

Imia is the name of two uninhabited Greek islands in the Dodecanese archipelago, East of Kalymnos.

The islands became famous during the 1996 crisis between Greece and Turkey which threatened to lead to war.

Chronology of the Imia crisis

December 25: The Turkish cargo ship, Figen Akat, goes aground in shallow waters off the coast of the Imia islands. Its captain refuses the aid of the Greek Coast Guard claiming he is in Turkish waters.
December 28: Two Greek tug boats free the Figen Akat and lead it to the Turkish port of Gulluk.
December 29: The Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a note to their Greek counterparts, claim that the Imia islands belong to Turkey.

January 9: The Greek Foreign Ministry refute the Turkish Foreign Ministry's claim that the Imia islands are Turkish.
January 16: Andreas Papandreou resigns as Prime Minister of Greece.
January 22: Costas Simitis becomes Prime Minister after Andreas Papandreou's resignation due to ill health.
January 26: The Mayor of Kalymnos, Dimitris Diakomichalis, raises the Greek flag over the Imia islands in response to Turkey's claim that they are Turkish.
January 27: Two Turkish newsmen from Hurriyet land by helicopter on the Imia islands and raise the Turkish flag in place of the Greek one.
January 28: Sailors from the Hellenic Navy patrol boat "Antoniou" land on the Imia islands, lower the Turkish flag and raise the Greek flag. Greek frogmen take up positions on the islands.
January 31: Greece and Turkey nearly go to war over the uninhabited Imia islands. The crisis is eventually averted but not before a Greek helicopter crashes. Its three-man crew is lost.