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ANKARA (Turkey), Sept. 16 (SeeNews) – Turkey issued a navigation telex (Navtex) informing that it is extending the drilling operations of its Yavuz ship in the eastern Mediterranean until October 20, a move that could increase tensions. with neighboring Cyprus and Greece. .
The ships Ertugrul Bey, Osman Bey and Orhan Bey will accompany Yavuz in its operations, according to the Navtex issued on Tuesday by Turkey’s navigation, hydrography and oceanography office.
Turkey sent the Yavuz drillship last year to conduct energy exploration operations off Cyprus. Turkey maintains that Cypriots in northern Cyprus, a country recognized only by Turkey, should have a share of the profits from drilling in Cyprus.
In a separate dispute with Greece, tensions flared after Turkey sent the Oruc Reis ship to conduct a seismic survey for natural gas in territorial waters in the eastern Mediterranean claimed by Greece.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Monday that Oruc Reis returned home for maintenance, also noting that Turkey’s energy exploration policy in the region remained unchanged and Ankara could agree to direct talks with Athens. under certain preconditions, Anadolu Agency reported.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday the country was ready to “immediately” start talks with Turkey on the dispute, the Turkish daily Sabah reported.
Turkish and Greek military delegations held “NATO-led conflict resolution talks” at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
Last week, the leaders of seven Mediterranean EU states said the EU is ready to draw up a list of restrictive measures against Turkey that could be discussed at the European Council meeting on September 24-25 if Ankara does not cease its “activities. unilateral and illegal “. in the eastern Mediterranean and to resume the dialogue with Greece and Cyprus.
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