THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS IN TURKEY TO HALT OPERATIONS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Headquarters of  the State Department  

The State Department has urged Turkey, on Tuesday, to halt any plans for operations in the eastern Mediterranean and to avoid steps that would raise tensions in the region.

A spokesperson said the “the United States is aware that Turkey has issued a NAVTEX for research in "disputed", according  to the Turks, waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

“We urge Turkish authorities to halt any plans for operations in the eastern Mediterranean and to avoid steps to raise the tensions in the region” the statement read.

Kastellorizo

Turkish Ship Oruc Reis

Earlier, on Tuesday, Turkey issued a navigation telex (NAVTEX) announcing plans of seismic survey on the Greek continental shelf, south and east of the Greek island of Kastellorizo from July 21^st to August 12^th ,  and Turkey’s ships are preparing to hold seismic operations in the area.

The Greek Prime Minister

The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that Turkey is threatening to violate the sovereign rights of Greece and Europe.

“Greece is following the developments with confidence and absolute readiness.  The questioning of the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus constitute the sovereign rights of the European Union.  If Turkey continues in this direction, sanctions will be imposed on Turkey by the EU", said the Greek prime minister.

Defence sources in Athens fear that Turkey plans to ignite a general crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, such a crisis, they say, would aim at preventing an Exclusive Economic Zone  agreement between Greece and Egypt, which is now under negotiation.  In addition, they add, Ankara warns to exploit the perceived policy vacuum in the USA, which is leading towards the oncoming elections.

The Greek Defence Minister 

Mark Esper

Greek defence minister, Mr Nikos Panayiotopoulos briefed United States defence secretary Mark Esper, during a scheduled phone call on Tuesday afternoon.  He told his US counterpart that the Greek ships were in the area and that “Greece is prepared to defend its sovereign rights, if necessary” according to a defence ministry press release. 
         

All the countries of the European Union are now on our side. Even Mrs Merkel had a meeting with Tayyip Erdogan where among others, the Turkish bellicosity in the region of the eastern Mediterranean was thoroughly discussed. 



(I wish to thanks ERT, SKAI TV Gr, BBC, FRANCE 24, CNN and the blog Greek Reporter for the valuable information for this post)

  

Zeto I Hellas!