Image copyright Reuters Image caption Alexis Tsipras accused Turkish fighter jets of entering Greek airspace

The Greek prime minister has accused Turkey of "harassing" his helicopter with fighter jets as he travelled to an independence day celebration.

Alexis Tsipras said his helicopter was forced into "low manoeuvres" on Monday when Turkish jets entered Greek airspace.

The prime minister accused Turkey of "foolish actions that have no meaning".

Turkish security forces rejected the accusations, insisting the jets were carrying out a routine mission.

"The Greek military intercepted the forces that violated the national airspace," Mr Tsipras said in a speech on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonisi, located close to the Turkish mainland, to mark independence day.

The national holiday celebrates Greece's uprising against the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1821.

"I had the honour of welcoming you here in Agathonisi and some fighter aircrafts of the Turkish air force, perhaps for the day, wanted to participate in the celebration," the prime minister said.

"What do they think they are doing?"

Mr Tsipras said that he was committed to co-operation with Turkey but that Greece would always protect its national integrity.

Turkey has denied claims of harassment.

Turkish state-funded Anadolu news agency quoted the security forces as saying that the planes were "conducting their regular mission".

Relations between the two countries have been strained for decades over territorial disputes in the Aegean.

But Mr Tsipras and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan have made efforts to improve relations. In 2017, Mr Erdogan became the first Turkish head of state to visit Greece for 65 years.</s>Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter carrying Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the island of Agathonisis for the 25th March celebrations.

The Prime Minister himself made the revelation in his address to the residents of the island, saying in a humorous tonne that the Turkish jets may have wanted to participate in the celebrations for Greece’s Independence Day.

 The aggressive aircraft were intercepted by Greek fighter jets as per normal procedures.

“I had the honour of being welcomed here in Agathonisi by some Turkish Air Force fighters. It seems, because of the day they wanted to participate in our national celebration. They forced the helicopter I was boarding to make some low flight manoeuvres until the Greek jets, as always, were intercepted the jets that violated our national airspace.”

Mr Tsipras continued by saying that these non-sensical acts would deter him from reaching even the last island of Greece, “even if I had to swim to get there”.

According to information, while the Prime Minister’s helicopter was approaching Agathonisi, two Turkish fighters entered the Greek airspace between the islands of Chios and Samos and moved 4 miles from the area where the Chinook helicopter was transporting the Greek PM.

It should be noted that this incident is the latest in a series of Turkish provocations against Greece, with statements like President Erdogan’s that the Hagia Sophia will become a mosque, while the Greek government insists on “politics of appeasement” with Foreign Minister George Katrougalos talking about “Turkey’s energy rights in the Eastern Mediterranean”, Yiannis Tsironis stating that “Kastelorizo does not belong to the Aegean”.

Former Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias made no secret about the approach adopted by the Greek government as he said: “Things need caution, politics of friendship, international law and to include the other in the stakes, to appease.”</s>The Greek prime minister has accused Turkey of "harassing" his helicopter with fighter jets as he travelled to an independence day celebration.

Alexis Tsipras said his helicopter was forced into "low manoeuvres" on Monday when Turkish jets entered Greek airspace.

The prime minister accused Turkey of "foolish actions that have no meaning."

"The Greek military intercepted the forces that violated the national airspace," he added.

Mr Tsipras was delivering a speech on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonisi, located close to the Turkish mainland, to mark independence day. The national holiday celebrates Greece's uprising against the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1821.

"I had the honour of welcoming you here in Agathonisi and some fighter aircrafts of the Turkish air force, perhaps for the day, wanted to participate in the celebration," the prime minister said.

"What do they think they are doing?"

Mr Tsipras said that he was committed to co-operation with Turkey but that Greece would always protect its national integrity.

The Turkish government has yet to comment.

Relations between the two countries have been strained for decades over territorial disputes in the Aegean.

But Mr Tsipras and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan have made efforts to improve relations. In 2017, Mr Erdogan became the first Turkish head of state to visit Greece for 65 years.</s>Greece’s prime minister has said Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter in which he was travelling during a visit to a remote Greek island to celebrate his country’s independence day.

Alexis Tsipras said he was “welcomed” by Turkish fighter jets violating Greek airspace during his arrival on Monday on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonisi.

The move forced the helicopter pilot to carry out low manoeuvres until Greek fighter jets arrived to deflect the Turkish aircraft, Tsipras said.

Greece and Turkey have long had tense relations and are divided over several issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean. Athens often complains that Turkish fighter jets violate its airspace, sometimes flying directly over Greek islands, and Greek and Turkish warplanes often engage in mock dogfights.

“A short while ago I had the honour of being welcomed here on Agathonisi by some fighter jets from the Turkish airforce,” Tsipras said during a speech on the island. “They wanted to also participate in our national celebration.”

The prime minister was on the island to celebrate the anniversary of Greece’s 1821 revolution against the Ottoman empire, the precursor to modern-day Turkey.

“They must know that these silly actions make no sense. They waste kerosene and gasoline,” Tsipras said of Turkey.

Tsipras said Greece was committed to dialogue and cooperation with Turkey, but that if necessary “we will do what our ancestors taught us, to defend our rights and our sovereignty”.

The two neighbours and Nato allies have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s, over the divided island of Cyprus and territorial issues in the Aegean, although they have also enjoyed periods of relatively good ties.

Turkish officials rejected the accusation. A Turkish security official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said there was “no question of any harassment attempt by the Turkish planes during the Greek prime minister’s activity today. The Turkish planes carried out their routine duties.”</s>Turkish F-16 fighter jets reportedly entering Greek airspace on Monday forced Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' helicopter to perform "low manoeuvres", the Greek official said, noting that Turkey's actions were "foolish" and had "no meaning".

Tsipras went on to note that "the Greek military intercepted the forces that violated the national airspace," and accused it of "harassing" his helicopter.

The Greek prime minister's comments came on Greece's Independence Day, which commemorates the war against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.

Turkey and Greece have been enduring tense relations due to territorial disputes over the Aegean islands for several decades.</s>ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Turkish jets buzzed his helicopter as he was flying on Monday to a Greek island to mark the anniversary of the 1821 uprising against Ottoman rule.

“They forced the helicopter I was on to maneuver low until Greek jets intercepted the forces violating our national air space,” Tsipras said in a speech on the island of Agathonisi, a few miles from Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

“The message I want to send them is that such foolish actions have no meaning, they spend their gasoline for nothing. We will always be there to defend our national integrity.”

A Greek military official told Reuters that Greek F-16 fighter jets intercepted the Turkish jets about four miles away from Tsipras’s helicopter.

There was no immediate comment from Turkish authorities.

Though NATO allies, Turkey and Greece have long been at odds over issues ranging from ethnically split Cyprus to air space and overflight rights. Relations have worsened since Greece blocked the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of involvement in 2016’s failed military coup.</s>Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter he was traveling on during a visit to a remote Greek island to celebrate independence day. Tsipras said he was “welcomed” by Turkish fighter jets violating Greek airspace during his arrival on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonissi, AP reports. The move forced the helicopter pilot to carry out low maneuvers until Greek fighter jets arrived to deflect the Turkish aircraft, according to Tsipras. Athens often complains Turkish fighter jets violate its airspace, sometimes flying directly over Greek islands.</s>ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's prime minister said Monday Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter he was traveling on during a visit to a remote Greek island to celebrate independence day.

Alexis Tsipras said he was "welcomed" by Turkish fighter jets violating Greek airspace during his arrival Monday on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonissi.

The move forced the helicopter pilot to carry out low maneuvers until Greek fighter jets arrived to deflect the Turkish aircraft, Tsipras said.

Greece and Turkey have long had tense relations and are divided over several issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean. Athens often complains Turkish fighter jets violate its airspace, sometimes flying directly over Greek islands, and Greek and Turkish warplanes often engage in mock dogfights.

"A short while ago I had the honour of being welcomed here on Agathonissi by some fighter jets from the Turkish airforce," Tsipras said during a speech on the island. "They wanted to also participate in our national celebration."

The prime minister was on the island to celebrate the anniversary of Greece's 1821 revolution against the Ottoman Empire, the precursor to modern-day Turkey.

"They must know that these silly actions make no sense. They waste kerosene and gasoline," Tsipras said of Turkey.

"Firstly because we will always be there to defend our national integrity. Secondly because the Greek prime minister will be on the most isolated island of our country, at the most isolated border area, even if he has to swim there," he added.

Tsipras stressed Greece is committed to dialogue and cooperation with Turkey, but that if necessary "we will do what our ancestors taught us, to defend our rights and our sovereignty."

The two neighbors and NATO allies have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s, over the divided island of Cyprus and territorial issues in the Aegean, although they have also enjoyed periods of relatively good ties.</s>ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Turkish jets buzzed his helicopter as he was flying on Monday to a Greek island to mark the anniversary of the 1821 uprising against Ottoman rule, but Turkey said there was no attempt to intercept his flight.

“They forced the helicopter I was on to manoeuvre low until Greek jets intercepted the forces violating our national air space,” Tsipras said in a speech on the island of Agathonisi, a few miles from Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

“The message I want to send them is that such foolish actions have no meaning, they spend their gasoline for nothing. We will always be there to defend our national integrity.”

A Greek military official told Reuters that Greek F-16 fighter jets intercepted the Turkish jets about four miles away from Tsipras’s helicopter.

A Turkish security source said the Turkish jets were conducting routine missions. “There has been no interception attempt by Turkish fighter jets during the Greek prime minister’s activity today,” the source said.

Though NATO allies, Turkey and Greece have long been at odds over issues ranging from ethnically split Cyprus to air space and overflight rights. Relations have worsened since Greece blocked the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of involvement in 2016’s failed military coup.</s>ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's prime minister said Monday that Turkish fighter jets harassed the helicopter he was traveling on during a visit to a remote Greek island to celebrate Greece's independence day.

Alexis Tsipras said he was "welcomed" by Turkish fighter jets violating Greek airspace during his arrival Monday on the small eastern Aegean island of Agathonissi.

The move forced the helicopter pilot to carry out low maneuvers until Greek fighter jets arrived to deflect the Turkish aircraft, Tsipras said.

Greece and Turkey have long had tense relations and are divided over several issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean. Athens often complains that Turkish fighter jets violate its airspace, sometimes flying directly over Greek islands, and Greek and Turkish warplanes often engage in mock dogfights.

"A short while ago I had the honour of being welcomed here on Agathonissi by some fighter jets from the Turkish airforce," Tsipras said during a speech on the island. "They wanted to also participate in our national celebration."

The prime minister was on the island to celebrate the anniversary of Greece's 1821 revolution against the Ottoman Empire, the precursor to modern-day Turkey.

"They must know that these silly actions make no sense. They waste kerosene and gasoline," Tsipras said of Turkey.

Tsipras stressed Greece is committed to dialogue and cooperation with Turkey, but that if necessary "we will do what our ancestors taught us, to defend our rights and our sovereignty."

The two neighbors and NATO allies have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s, over the divided island of Cyprus and territorial issues in the Aegean, although they have also enjoyed periods of relatively good ties.

A Turkish security official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said there was "no question of any harassment attempt by the Turkish planes during the Greek prime minister's activity today. The Turkish planes carried out their routine duties."

"It is not the first time in recent years that Turkish provocation has been expressed even against the representatives of our country's political leadership," said Giorgos Koumoutsakos, who handles foreign affairs for the conservative New Democracy party. "Nor is it the first time Ankara provocatively ignores even the days on which Greeks celebrate their history and religion."

In Athens, Greeks marked independence day with a military parade complete with tanks and military aircraft flying by the ancient Acropolis. Student parades were also held.

Security was tight following concerns of protests by opponents of a deal Greece recently reached with neighboring North Macedonia, under which the country changed its name in return for Greece dropping its objections to the former Yugoslav republic joining NATO.

In the northern city of Thessaloniki, capital of the Greek province of Macedonia, one of the participants in the local parade held a placard reading: "Traitors, God forgives, the Greek Macedonians never." Protesters who tried to reach the area where officials were watching the parade were held back by police.

Police in one Athens neighborhood arrested 12 people after scuffles broke out, charging them with throwing Molotov cocktails, attacking police, causing injuries and other crimes.

Costas Kantouris in Thessaloniki, Greece and Suzan Fraser in Istanbul contributed.

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Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras says Turkish fighter jets threatened his helicopter, in Greek airspace, heading to the Aegean island of Agathonisi, near Turkey's coastline, for Greek Independence Day which celebrates the country's 1821 uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Turkish security forces rejected the accusation, insisting the jets were carrying out a routine mission.