AN SMA PLT GOT INTO A COM PROBLEM WITH A FOREIGN ATC.

Narrative

WHILE ENRTE TO ISTANBUL AT THE KRK VOR; I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO CLB TO FL130 AND CONTINUE DOWN G-12 TO THESSALONIKI VOR. AS I NEARED YNN IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE MOUNTAIN PASS WAS OBSCURED WITH CLOUD AND I WAS AT THIS TIME; AT FL12.4 AND ABSOLUTELY UNABLE TO CLB ANY FURTHER. THE TEMP WAS BELOW FREEZING SO I ANTICIPATED ICING IF I CONTINUED; I DID NOT HAVE ANY DE-ICING EQUIP; AND ADDITIONALLY; I HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM TO MAINTAIN RADIO CONTACT WITH ANY ATC FAC IN THIS AREA; BUT I RADIOED MY NEED FOR A RERTE TO KERKIRA ATC AT WHICH TIME I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ATHENS ON 124.9; WHICH I DID AND WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO PICK UP A-14; AND AT THIS TIME; I LOST RADIO CONTACT. I COULD NOT AGAIN REACH ATHENS BUT IN A FEW MINS I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT KERKIRA AGAIN. WHEN I TOLD HIM MY POS; THE CTLR HAD A NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF UNPLEASANT THINGS TO SAY. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN THIS CLRNC FROM ATHENS; BUT APPARENTLY; THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. APPARENTLY; HE FORGOT THAT HE HAD HANDED ME OVER TO ATHENS. SOON; I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN RADIO CONTACT AND THEN THE EXCITEMENT WAS OVER; BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ATC FACS IN THIS AREA AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ICAO INVESTIGATION INTO THE EQUIP AND OR PERSONNEL PROBLEMS THERE. AS AN ADDITIONAL NOTE -- PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT; THE CTLR HAD ASKED OF MY DEST TO CONFIRM I WOULD LAND IN ISTANBUL. AFTER I CONFIRMED IT THE ATTITUDE SEEMED DIFFERENT ON THE PART OF THE CTLRS. THIS QUESTION WAS POSED PRIOR TO ALL OTHER PROBLEMS I BELIEVE THE LONG- STANDING FEUD BTWN GREECE AND TURKEY WAS A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT.