NATO have retracted a post congratulating the Turkish Army for its victory against Greece in the 1922 war after Athens issued a stern demarche to the Alliance’s Secretary General.
A post on Tuesday by the Allied Land Command based in Izmir concerning Turkish Armed Forces Day on Tuesday said: “Today is the 100th Anniversary of Turkish Independence. We join our Turkish allies across NATO & beyond in celebration of their Victory and Turkish Armed Forces Day.”
However, Athens which still feels the pain for the Asia Minor disaster and Turkey’s genocide against Greeks said in a foreign ministry announcement that the post in question “in addition to being tasteless, was also unacceptable.”
“At the same time, Greek military authorities in NATO will proceed with a similar representation to NATO’S Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE),” it added.
Victory Day in Turkey also known as Turkish Armed Forces Day commemorates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War, on August 30, 1922.
Following the battle, Greek presence in Anatolia ended.