State Department welcomes soldiers’ return from Turkey
![State Department welcomes soldiers’ return from Turkey](https://www.ekathimerini.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/15s10str-thumb-large_web.jpg)
The US State Department has welcomed the return of the two Greek soldiers to Greece after five months’ imprisonment in Turkey, congratulating the Greek people and the foreign ministry.
In a tweet posted early on Thursday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said “We welcome the news of the long-awaited homecoming for Greek soldiers Dimitris Kouklatzis and Angelos Mitretodis. Congratulations to the people of #Greece and @GreeceMFA.”
We welcome the news of the long-awaited homecoming for Greek soldiers Dimitris Kouklatzis and Angelos Mitretodis. Congratulations to the people of #Greece and @GreeceMFA.
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 15, 2018
On Wednesday, Geoffrey Pyatt, US ambassador to Greece, also tweeted his congratulations to the Greek Foreign Ministry upon the release of two soldiers.
The soldiers – 2nd Lieutenant Angelos Mitretodis and Sergeant Dimitris Kouklatzis – were arrested on March 1 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greece strongly protested their long detention in the western town of Edirne, arguing that they had strayed across during a patrol of a trail of suspected illegal immigration amid poor visibility due to bad weather.