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At a time when Ankara is increasing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with the investigation of Navtex and Oruc Reis, during a teleconference with their counterparts in NATO, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, raised the issue of Turkish challenges.
Panagiotopoulos discussed the resumption of discussions of the mechanism Accident prevention Y de-escalation of NATO.
According to OPEN, the Foreign Minister, in order for Greece to sit at the negotiating table, demanded that the broadcast of Navtex be stopped and that aggressive statements stop.
Turkey, on the other hand, does not seem to want to go to the contact table, which is proven, as ministerial circles say, with the latest Navtex issued by Turkey, which is valid until October 27.
Turkish challenges continue
Reaffirming its insolvency and torpedoing efforts for dialogue and the resumption of exploratory contacts, the Turkish government renewed the Maritime Directive for the Oruc Reis investigation on October 27, with the new Navtex once again a short distance from Kastelorizo.
On Thursday afternoon (10.10), the Oruc Reis again “broke” the limit of 12 nautical miles, reaching 10 nautical miles from the Megisti archipelago. The Turkish investigation passed a “breather” from the Greek islands and the Greek fleet and continued on a western course.
However, from the Oruc Reis bridge, they again saw greek warships, who have taken up battle positions and created a floating wall around Kastelorizo, Ro and Strongyli, literally marking the Turkish investigation and the ships that accompany it. Same of course “Frogs” of the Greek Special Forces, who have occupied positions – “keys” on islands and islets and are always ready to strike where needed.
Stoltenberg: political decisions to avoid accidents
“The tension in Eastern mediterranean must be solved on its basis international Of law and with solidarity among the allies. “
This message was repeated by the Secretary General of NATO Jens stoltenberg, after the meeting of the Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Alliance, adding that “we discussed this issue with the ministers today and we gave great help in de-escalation mechanism, in dialogue, in reducing tensions and in exploring ways to strengthen this mechanism. “
Stoltenberg asked not take positions in favor of climbing voltage but to support a de-escalation mechanism to avoid incidents and accidents. Indeed, the prevention of such incidents and accidents, he said, should not be entrusted to the commanders of pursuing ships or pilots. «We politiciansStressed, “we have to best may solve the difference at our level. The de-escalation mechanism won’t be the only solution, but it will pave the way for more advanced conversations. And I think that allow exploratory contacts to be initiated under the auspices of Germany as soon as possible».
Answer a relevant question, congratulated the Hellas Y Turkey for flexibility they showed themselves to put on request he mechanism.
They reaffirm, he said, their support for processes that ensure responsible behavior at sea and in the air. He also referred to establishment of open telephone communication with the help of NATO networks and added that our goal is “to see how we can expand this mechanism.” “These are issues that we raised at the political level during my visits to Ankara and Athens and I discussed them with Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdogan.”
Referring again to de-escalation mechanism He reiterated that the responsibility for preventing incidents and accidents at sea could not be assumed by ship commanders, the military and the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, he emphasized, “I ask everyone to contribute to Political decisions are made to prevent such incidents and accidents.».
In fact, he made it clear that NATO Headquarters it is a forum that can be done Progress, as Greece and Turkey have daily meetings here and this is an advantage for avoid each misunderstandings.
