Imia

From Phantis
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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

  • 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