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Greece is determined to intensify its diplomatic efforts in the face of Turkish provocation, throwing on the table the “weapon” of suspending the EU-Turkey customs union.
According to diplomatic sources, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, in a letter to Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, stressed that Turkey continues to violate unilaterally, adopting unforeseen EU tariff, legislative and equivalent measures.
In this context, according to the same sources, he asked the European Commission to immediately consider the adoption of new measures. He also stressed that as a message of disapproval of Turkey’s current criminal behavior against the European Union, the possibility of a total suspension of the EU-Turkey customs union should be considered.
Donmez “incendiary” for Kastellorizo
At the same time, Turkey continues to provoke, announcing in advance that it will send a drilling rig off Kastellorizo.
“Kastellorizo is 580 km from Greece and only two km from Turkey,” Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez told NTV, adding that the Oruc Reis, which sails from the remote island, “is conducting seismic studies. “. , Clarifying that … he came to stay.
In an interview revealing Turkey’s intentions, Fatih Donmez says the seismographic vessel will remain in the area for at least two months to conduct two-dimensional seismic studies and whether there are results of deposits in the area currently navigating Oruts Reyes, Turkey. will send the drill. 
“Orus Reis is currently conducting two-dimensional seismic studies. I imagine we will complete them in two months. “Then in the same area, we will do a 3D investigation and, as they said, if we find an area with high expectations, we will send our floating drilling rig to do the first research drilling,” Donmez emphasized.
At the same time, Ankara is targeting Kastelorizo again, since according to Turkish theory, the islands have no continental shelf and Kastelorizo is 580 km from Greece, while only 2 km from Turkey.
“Greece has the position that its islands have a continental shelf. But in many parts of the world, there are examples that support our positions. There are judicial decisions. We have said it many times. They have claims for an area because of Kastelorizo, but Kastelorizo It is 580 km from Greece, while from Turkey only 2 km. This position ignores and tries to avoid the supremacy of the continent. “This has nothing to do with international law,” said Fatih Donmez.
Meanwhile, Oruch Reyes is 25 nautical miles southwest of Kastelorizo and heading east northeast.
Diplomatic barrage from Athens
It is recalled that on Monday Greece erected a diplomatic “wall” against the Turkish challenges. Among the moves made on the diplomatic chessboard are the briefing by the UN, NATO and the United States on Turkey’s crime, but also the reminder to the European Union – by Josep Borrell – that Greece reserves the right to invoke the mutual solidarity clause.
It was also announced that the Greek Embassy in Ankara took a strong step towards the Turkish side. 
As noted by diplomatic sources, given the unprecedented and escalation of Turkish crime, Greece is taking specific diplomatic initiatives to denounce Turkish actions.
Specifically, by order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, the ministry carried out the following actions:
- Letter to the UN Secretary General, Guterres, denouncing the highly destabilizing behavior of Turkey.
- A letter to US Secretary of State Pompeo, in which, in addition to reporting on the latest events in the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighted that Turkish behavior not only contradicts the basic rules of conduct of an allied country, but also creates the risk of destabilize the South. East wing of NATO and contradicts the provisions of the preamble to the Greece-US Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement.
- Letter to HR / AU Borrell on Turkish crime, which will emphasize the fundamental right of our country to invoke article 42.7 of the Treaty of the European Union (mutual solidarity clause).
- A complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the illegal announcement of the extension of the Turkish search and rescue area of responsibility covering areas of Greek sovereignty and jurisdiction, which therefore does not produce legal results and at the same time does not it serves the safety of human life.
- Parallel claim to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the same issue.
- Protest of the Embassy in Ankara against the Turkish side.
- Immediate information from the European Border Guard-FRONTEX, which operates in part of the area in question under Greek jurisdiction.
- Promote the destabilizing role of Turkey at the international level and, at the same time, highlight to the competent international organizations the continuous and daily deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey.
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