“COURIER” comment by Margaretha Kopeinig: “A shot across the bow”

The Turkish tactic is clear: a provocation, because Vienna against the
EU accession.

Vienna (OTS) – It would be naive to assume that the Austria-critical
Statements of the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey were his personal
Opinion. It is part of the raison d’être of a diplomat, to represent
the interests of his country. In addition, the
Turkish Foreign Ministry considered very well whom to send to Vienna
The Ambassadors are statements in the of EU-wide context
To understand the debate on the accession of Turkey and the negative
attitude of the government of Turkey is a shot across the bow.

Turkey wants after years of stalling by the EU and clarity
from those countries that stand on the front line against membership.
These are France, Germany and Austria. To begin with, against the
economically strong and strategically well oriented Turkey, the
smallest and weakest country politically
was Austria, at the 2005 launch of the accession negotiations that
wanted to stop it but could not prevail.

The wisdom is it is not that Turkey needs EU but vice versa. For the
competition on the global stage, the EU and its economy – hence the
Austrian – need for new resources.

Contact:
COURIER, European Editor
Tel: (01) 52 100 / 2752

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Warning shot

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009)

A United States Coast Guard helicopter firing warning shots at a non-compliant boat during training.

A warning shot (in nautical terms, often called a shot across the bow) is a harmless artillery shot or gunshot intended to call attention and demand some action.

During the 18th Century, a warning shot could be fired towards any ship whose colours (nationality) had to be ascertained. According to the law of the sea, a ship thus hailed had to fly her flag and confirm it with a gunshot. Warning shots may still be used in modern times to signal a vessel to stop or keep off and may be fired from other ships, boats, or aircraft. ^{[1] [2]}

Warning shots are also used in military aviation, to demand some action of an “enemy” aircraft; the most common demand would be for the aircraft to change course. The ostensible justification for firing shots is that tracer rounds are very bright and would immediately gain the attention of a crew whose radio is non-functioning, or who might not have noticed radio transmissions. The objective of warning shots is to demonstrate the ability to shoot, and cause fear in the aircraft’s crew that they will be shot down if they do not comply with combatant’s demands.^{[citation needed]}

On the ground, a warning shot from a pistol, rifle, or shotgun is fired into the air or a nearby object, or aimed so that the shot passes the one being warned harmlessly. This is a sufficiently aggressive act to demand attention, and alert onlookers that they might be shot if directions are not followed.

By analogy, “warning shot” can be said of any action of declaration, especially a demonstration of power, intended or perceived as a last warning before hostile measures.

[edit] See also