Athens demands Ankara probe Greek flag vandalism by 'Turkish engineers'

Greece has demanded Ankara investigate the vandalism of a Greek flag on the island of Kastellorizo by suspected Turkish nationals, in an area which has become a flashpoint for tensions between the two countries.

On Saturday, a large mural displaying a Greek flag standing on a hill overlooking Kastellorizo port was found defaced with red paint, with Turkish nationals blamed for the act.

"We unequivocally condemn yesterday's desecration of the Greek flag in Kastellorizo. Unacceptable actions such as these are aimed at undermining the prospects for de-escalation of the tensions between the two countries," the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement, according Al Jazeera.

"We expect the immediate condemnation and the prompt investigation of the incident by the Turkish authorities, so that the perpetrators be brought to justice."

A Turkish TV station broadcast footage from a drone that showed "Turkish engineers" throwing "100 kilos of red paint on the Greek flag".

A drone fitted with speakers reportedly hovered over the island on Saturday playing the Turkish national anthem.

— Greekcitytimes (@greekcitytimes) September 26, 2020" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Kastellorizo: Drone with loudspeakers play's Turkish national anthem and Greek flag vandalised (videos) https://t.co/fmLCeAf9V3 pic.twitter.com/6ytojFkS1x — Greekcitytimes (@greekcitytimes) September 26, 2020

Kastellorizo is situated at the heart of tensions between Turkey and Greece, close to waters that saw the deployment of Turkish military vessels to escort a seismic exploration vessel last month.

Tensions between Athens and Ankara centre on disagreements regaeding economic maritime zones, which have been heightened following the discovery of gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Greece to help fix tensions between the two NATO allies.

France has strongly backed Greece in the dispute.