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30 September, 1998
Greece, along with Turkey and Italy, will host the largest NATO exercise conducted in the southern region this year, when Dynamic Mix 98 gets under way tomorrow.
It will be the first time that Greece and Turkey have participated jointly in a NATO training exercise for 13 years, after talks at the NATO level leading to the two countries' judging that the exercise was in both their national interests.
But neither Turkish nor Greek forces will take part in exercises on the territory of the other country.
Dynamic Mix will involve forces from 11 NATO nations and will be conducted in the Mediterranean and is designed to improve the Southern Region's capability to implement NATO strategy and to deal simultaneously with a crisis and peace support operation.
Exercises will take place concurrently in more than one location, with many nations participating in different aspects of the same exercise.
It will be the largest NATO exercise conducted in the region this year, with approximately 17,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Approximately 5,000 troops, 62 ships and 170 aircraft will participate, as well as all NATO headquarters in the Southern Region. It will be directed and coordinated by the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH).
The area of the exercise include the south and eastern Mediterranean, the Ionian Sea, northern Greece, southeast Turkey and southern Italy.
The final phase of Dynamic Mix will be held in southeast Turkey. At the same time, U.S. and Turkish forces will conduct a small-scale aeronautical exercise in international waters between the Greek islands of Chios and Samos.
The U.S. and Turkish authorities will be obliged to submit flight plans, in line with Dynamic Mix regulations. If they do not, they will be intercepted by Greek fighters.
Turkey has also scheduled a national landing operation to take place at the same time as the NATO exercise.
Gov't spokesman :
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said later that the exercise would be conducted in a different region to that selected during last year's Dynamic Mix.
"These appear to be the changes that have been made this year and allowed Turkey to participate in this (year's) exercise," Mr. Reppas said.
Mr. Reppas said Turkey had raised objections to some of the regions in which Dynamic Mix 97 was to be conducted and had abstained from participating.
Source: Athens News Agency
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