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After months of conflict in the Mediterranean – where some spoke of the risk of war – Greece and Turkey began “technical talks” at the end of September within the NATO military alliance, of which both countries are members.
“Let’s give diplomacy a chance,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The talks were seen as a first step towards resolving the infected conflict.
They were also one of the reasons why the EU Heads of State and Government refrained from mentioning the word “sanctions” in their joint statement on Turkey at their summit in early October.
But now the parties return to the starting point.
On Monday, the research vessel Oruc Reis set sail from its port in Antalya, where it was anchored for repairs. The ship has now resumed its search for oil and gas deposits in waters that Greece and the EU consider to belong to the so-called exclusive zone of the country.
Turkey, on the other hand, sees the waters as part of its own zone.
On Tuesday morning, Oruc Reis was about 35 nautical miles (65 kilometers) south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo, which itself is just two kilometers off the Turkish coast.
As late as before Five days ago, the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey met and agreed on a date for negotiations and “confidence-building measures” for both sides.
But now the Athens government speaks of Turkey’s actions as “a direct threat to peace” in the region. All calls, including techniques, are suspended while Oruc Reis continues his investigations.
The German government says in a statement that it is “unwise” for Turkey to begin gas exploration again, and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas canceled a trip to Ankara on short notice.
The eastern Mediterranean question it would appear on the EU agenda again in December, it was said at the last summit. Now it is already being discussed at this week’s summit on Thursday and Friday.
Both Greece and Cyprus are expected to demand that the forbidden word “sanctions” be pronounced this time.
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