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While Turkey has repeatedly said that it is open to resolving problems with Greece through dialogue, it has publicly refused to set preconditions before negotiations, including halting President Oroch’s operations, and his phased measures. In recent weeks, international concern has been raised about the escalation of tension and the risk of direct confrontations with Greece.
Cavusoglu said during a press conference on Saturday: “If there are those who set preconditions for Turkey, we also have preconditions that must be implemented.”
Cavusoglu did not go into details and reiterated that the ideal situation is to start talks without preconditions.
On Sunday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, during a visit to the Kash region in Antalya, near the Greek island of Kastelorizo, that Turkey supports dialogue and the search for a political solution.
But Turkey’s latest calm remarks came after days of adhering to the escalation in the eastern Mediterranean waters and on a brusque tone, before Europeans pressed for firm action to dissuade Turkey from its provocations and violations.
It seems that Turkey’s withdrawal of its vessels to its territorial waters is part of a political maneuver to reduce tension with Greece, which has European support, especially France, which has launched its military weight to support Greece in defense of its sovereign right in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean.
Akar added today, Sunday, that the return of the Turkish exploration ship Oroç President to waters near the southern coast of the country does not mean that Ankara has abandoned its rights in the eastern Mediterranean, adding in statements to the official Anatolia news agency that the Return of the ship is part of its scheduled operations.
Turkey says its sovereignty claims over the eastern Mediterranean are legitimate. There is no agreement between her and Greece that defines the continental shelf for each of them, and Turkey rejects any sovereign demand for Cyprus, with which it does not have diplomatic relations.
Turkey is also exploring oil and gas resources in the Black Sea and has discovered a gas field containing 320 billion cubic meters.
