[ad_1]
Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis. Photo: athina984.gr
The conflict between Turkey and Greece flares up again over the dispatch of the Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis to the area of the Greek offshore platform near the island of Kastelorizo.
The ship’s dispatch was known on Monday, October 12.
Athens and Paris consider it a provocation by Turkey and demanded to consider this issue at a meeting of the EU Council, writes “Correspondent”.
In turn, Ankara said that its vessel is carrying out an exploration 15 km from Turkey and 425 km from the Greek mainland.
“The Greek Foreign Ministry in its statement today presented unfounded claims incompatible with international law. It is unacceptable to object to our country with the longest coastline of the eastern Mediterranean operating 15 km from the continent,” the statement said.
Ankara hopes that Athens will “abandon its maximalist demands and end the military exercises and operations that are fueling tensions in the Aegean and the Mediterranean.”
Let us remember that Greece has issued an international NAVTEX alert (Navtex) about the carrying out of military exercises with shots in the area of the island of Kastelorizo. Navtex is valid from Monday, July 27 to July 30 for Coast Guard shooting exercises. According to Navtex, seafarers are prohibited from crossing the designated area. Soon after, Turkey criticized the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel on the full restoration of diplomatic relations, calling it treason, which allowed the United Arab Emirates to side with Greece in the conflict over Cyprus.
As Strana reported, on August 13, the Greek and Turkish frigates Limnos and Kemalreis “touched down” in the disputed eastern Mediterranean region, where the Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis is conducting seismic studies. In turn, the European Union accused Turkey of escalating the conflict with Greece.
In connection with the worsening of relations between these countries, France sent its frigate to the Mediterranean.
Also “Strana” wrote that Greece announced the holding of military exercises with shooting on the border with Turkey. Soon after, Turkey announced that it would also conduct artillery exercises in the eastern Mediterranean amid escalating conflict with Greece over seismic studies in the disputed offshore area. So, Turkey began moving tanks from the southeastern province of Hatay to the northwestern region of Edirne, which borders Greece.
