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Turkish vessel carries out activities in Eastern Mediterranean

Tuesday, 11 August 2020 1:32 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 11 August 2020 2:03 AM ]

Rahshan Saglam
Press TV, Istanbul

Turkey has issued an advisory saying that a Turkish ship is set to conduct a seismic survey in a disputed area in the eastern Mediterranean over the next two weeks.

The advisory comes after a brief suspension of operations in the Mediterranean which were upended after Ankara accused Greece of breaking the terms of the pause.

Turkey and Greece are at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region.

A similar advisory, or NAVTEX, last month prompted a dispute which was calmed after the intervention of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leading Turkey to agree a pause in operations.

Earlier Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the new advisory is the country's response to those who did not respect Turkey’s rights and interests in eastern Mediterranean.

The move to begin exploratory drilling comes amid anger on the Turkish side over a deal signed between Greece and Egypt on economic zones for drilling rights and maritime boundaries, which Turkey claims is intended to keep it out of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis convened the government’s national security council on Monday, after Turkey's announcement. The council includes the ministers of foreign affairs and defense. Greece government has announced its readiness for talks with Turkey to remove differences.

It seems, as experts say, the only solution to the ongoing tension in eastern Mediterranean is dialogue. Now it remains to be seen how far the two sides are ready to step practical steps to sit for talks over the differences.

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