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Greece Rebuffs Turkish Demands to Demilitarize Aegean Islands

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Greece is pushing back against Turkish demands that it
   demilitarize 16 Aegean islands. The Turkish government maintains it is
   defending Turkey's rights and remains committed to negotiation, but
   analysts warn Turkey's increasingly "robust diplomacy" threatens to
   isolate Ankara and escalate regional tensions.

   "Greece does not provoke, does not violate the sovereign rights of
   others, but it doesn't like to see its own rights violated," said Greek
   Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos Saturday.

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