Filenews 11 August 2020
Ankara continues its challenges with Mevlut Tsavousoglu announcing that Turkey will issue permits for seismographic surveys and mining in new areas of the Eastern Mediterranean by the end of August.
Meanwhile, within the Greek continental shelf remains the Turkish research seismographic vessel "Oruc Rach", accompanied by Turkish ships in a narrow circle.
Speaking Tuesday during a press conference in Ankara, the Turkish foreign minister announced that his country would issue permits for seismographic surveys and mining in new areas of the eastern Mediterranean by the end of August.
Tsavousoglu said Turkey would continue "all kinds of seismographic and mining operations" in the region.
Meanwhile, according to Greek media reports, Turkey has sent more than 17 ships (wells, corvettes and torpedoes) and submarines between Rhodes and Kastelorizos, in which together with the 7 frigates accompanying the Turkish research vessel, a force of about 25 ships is completed.
Its cables remain in place, but according to estimates of the Greek side, it cannot make inquiries due to the noise caused by the ships near it (Greek and Turkish).
Several units of the Greek Navy are in full order in key positions and monitor minute by minute throughout the night the movements of the "Oruc Reis" by transmitting every 15 minutes a message via radio that the Turkish research vessel is illegally located within a Greek continental shelf and calling on it to leave it.
All air force squadrons, as well as the land army, are on standby.
- Emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers calls for Greece
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who met with the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was at Maximos Palace a short time ago.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a request for the extraordinary convening of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union.
It is noted that the transmitter of Oruc Reis, was closed late last night, at 23:57 Cyprus time and around 2:00 in the morning gave again a mark.
Moreover, a map published by the senior official of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katagai Ersiyes, shows the movements of the Turkish ship and the announced searches within a Greek continental shelf.
According to government sources, Greece is moving calmly and decisively. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday briefed both the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and today he will have telephone contacts with political leaders to inform them of developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
West of Cyprus, Oruc Reis, according to Kipris postal
The Turkish seismographic Oruc Reis is located west of Cyprus, according to a report on the Kipris postisi website noting that the ship is accompanied by a strong naval force.
According to the report, Oruc Reis departed yesterday morning from the coast of Antalya where it had been for some time and is now in the area bound by a new NAVTEX from Turkey. Very close to Oruc Reis, it is noted, is turkey's drilling ship Yavuz.
The website also states that the seismographic Barbaros is located east of Cyprus and the drilling Fatih is in the Black Sea.
Turkish Ministry of Defense: Oruc Reis is protected by the navy
The Turkish navy has secured an escort to the ship Oruc Reis that began seismographic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Turkish Ministry of Defence announced via its Twitter account.
«The Turkish armed forces have taken all necessary measures in our maritime areas of competence in the context of the determination and strong protection of our rights and interests under international law" adds the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dialogue and de-escalation calls for Foran Ofis
In dialogue and de-escalation, the British Government calls on Greece and Turkey, reacting to the tension of the last few days.
In response to a question from the CYPE, a foreign office spokesperson said that "we urge all our partners in the Eastern Mediterranean to make opportunities for dialogue a priority and to seek de-escalation".
Source: Eyenews/skai.gr