Amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s Vice President Fouat Okte has recently condemned the European Union’s urgency to slap Ankara with sanctions as it prepares to conduct a military exercise off the coast of Cyprus.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s comments on Saturday came a day after the bloc was preparing to impose sanctions on Turkey until progress was made in easing tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the East Mediterranean – including tough economic measures.
“The call for dialogue for the European Union is hypocritical and at the same time, makes other plans related to Turkey’s activities within the shelf of our continents in the East Mediterranean,” Octe said on Twitter.
“We are adept at the language of peace and diplomacy, but do not hesitate to do the necessary work when it comes to protecting Turkey’s rights and interests. France and Greece know they are better than anyone.”
The long-running dispute between Turkey and Greece erupted after both NATO members agreed to compete on their maritime borders with Libya and Egypt, and Turkey sent a surveyor into the fighting waters this month.
EU measures, which are aimed at limiting Turkey’s ability to explore for natural gas in war waters, may include the use of individuals, ships or European ports.
“We can move on to measures related to regional activities … where Turkey’s economy is related to the European economy,” Borrell said in a news conference, referring to possible sanctions.
The European Union will focus on all matters related to “activities we deem illegal,” he said.
Military exercise
On Friday, Turkey said it would conduct a military exercise from northwestern Cyprus in the next two weeks.
The Turkish army advised the navies, known as Nautex, Saying that he will do “gunnery exercises” from Saturday to September 11.
Both Greece and Turkey have conducted military exercises in the East Mediterranean, highlighting the possibility of a dispute over the extent of their continents’ shelves to move forward in the conflict.
Two weeks ago, Greek and Turkish frigates collided under the umbrella of the Turkish oil and gas survey ship Turkey, and the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday that a Turkish F-16 jet had intercepted six Greek F-16 aircraft in the area where Turkey was operating. .
There are differences between Greece and Turkey over the rights of potential hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean, based on conflicting claims about the extent of the shelves of their continents.
Tensions escalated this month after Ankara dispatched an Oruk race seismic survey ship to the disputed area following an agreement between Athens and Cairo.
The agreement is seen as a response to the Turkey-Libya agreement signed in 2019, which allows Turkey access to areas in the region where large hydrocarbon deposits have been found.
Turkey is a formal candidate to join the European Union, but its talks with the bloc have been in a deadlock for the past several years.
Source:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
