Red Telephone Minutes of That Night

Hurriyet's Atina representative Nur Batur announces the minutes of the historical telephone conversation during the Kardak Crisis that brought Turkey and Greece to the threshold of war in 1996.In January 1996, during the most strained  days of the crisis, U.S.President Clinton called then- Turkish President Suleyman Demirel by a red telephone from the White House. This historical conversation took place in the new book of Nur Batur.Here is the historical dialogue. Date: January 30, time: 9.00 p.m.Clinton: I worry about a Turco-Greek war. I wish to receive an assurance from you that you will refrain from military clash. I will ask the Greek prime minister to pull out his soldiers.Demirel: I am worried, too. We do not want a clash. If Greece pulls out its soldiers and removed its flag (From the small Kardak islet in the AegeanSea) , the problem will be resolved.Clinton: I will do all I can.Demirel: At the beginning, there was neither flag nor soldier on the island.We would be thankful if you could do something for the situation to turn to its first status.Clinton: Thank you. I will do all I can. We will keep in touch.Demirel: Thank you, Esteemed President.The Kardak Crisis started with the hoisting of a Greek flag by a group of Greeks led by a priest on the rocks. Then, a Turkish flag was also hoisted on the same islet. Thereupon, Greek soldiers landed on the islet and the Turkish side got positioned on the other islets. The crisis that brought the two countries to a bring of war, resulted with the withdrawal of both sides.Â