For days the Turkish "Oruc Reis" has been looking for natural gas in the sea area claimed by Greece, despite protests. French President Macron now wants to assist Greece.
Athens (dpa) - Despite all the protests, the Turkish research vessel "Oruc Reis" continues the controversial search for natural gas off Greek islands in the East Aegean.
According to the MarineTraffic location service, during the night the ship moved again towards a sea area that Greece understands as its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The research vessel temporarily sailed to the Turkish sea area, but then changed course again. Numerous Turkish and Greek warships are in the region.
In view of the dispute over natural gas fields, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will temporarily increase the French military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. The "unilateral Turkish actions are creating tension and must be stopped so that a quiet dialogue can start," Macron said on the short message service Twitter in Greek.
The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked Macron on Twitter. The Cypriot State Radio (RIK) reported that two French Rafale fighter bombers have been in Cyprus for a few days.
Meanwhile, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused his neighbors Greece of "treachery" - but at the same time called for negotiations. If one proceeds with "reason and common sense", one can find a formula that protects the rights of all. "We are absolutely not after unnecessary adventure and are not looking for tension."
Erdogan wanted to call Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. Merkel had already mediated the gas dispute in July.
The "Oruc Reis" has been searching for natural gas south of Rhodes and the small island of Kastelorizo since the beginning of the week. Kastelorizo is only around two kilometers from the Turkish mainland, but like Rhodes it belongs to Greece.
The United Nations (UN) law of the sea defines an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for coastal countries that extends beyond the territorial waters of a country. In this 200-mile zone, a state therefore has the sole right to exploit mineral resources. If the coast of another country is closer, the center line applies. Greek islands that are close to the Turkish coast reduce the Turkish EEZ enormously. Turkey declares that islands have no EEZ and therefore regards their gas exploration as legitimate. She has never signed the Convention on the Law of the Sea, like the USA, for example.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200813-99-151295 / 3
Twitter Macron in Greek
Location service Marinetraffic
