Falcon29
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Greece and Turkey closer to armed conflict, say experts
Turkey is threatening to send a drilling ship to waters claimed - and defended - by Greece.
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Athens, Greece - Greece and Turkey have come closer to armed conflict after Turkey's surprise delineation of an Exclusive Economic Zone with Libya, experts tell Al Jazeera.
The agreement, signed on November 27 and unveiled on Thursday, maps out a corridor of water stretching across the eastern Mediterranean between the coasts of Turkey and Libya, cutting across a swath that is also claimed by EU member Greece.
EEZs allow countries exclusive rights to exploit natural resources including mineral wealth.
Turkish energy minister Fatih Donmez has announced that, once the agreement is ratified by both sides, Turkish drillships will begin to search there for oil and gas.
Although the Hellenic Navy neither confirms nor denies it, two experts tell Al Jazeera that Greece has dispatched naval forces to the disputed area southeast of Crete.
"If a Turkish drillship does show up, our ships would take action against it, and that could lead to an armed confrontation, because these ships are accompanied by naval vessels. And of course that could ultimately lead to war," says a veteran senior diplomat on condition of anonymity.
International public law professor Angelos Syrigos also confirms that Greek naval forces have been dispatched as a deterrent to Turkish exploration.
"There will be no Turkish drillship. It has been communicated to Turkey that we shall not tolerate any exploration in the area Greece considers to be its EEZ," says Syrigos, who also serves as an MP for the ruling conservative New Democracy party.
Greece to go it alone
"We are preparing for all eventualities on all levels," Greek defence minister Nikos Panayotopoulos told Skai News on Thursday, without elaborating. The navy's chief of staff, Admiral Nikos Tsounis, added: "We shall not wait for anyone to come and help us. Whatever we do, we shall do alone."
A meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit on Wednesday produced no breakthrough.
"It was an open and honest discussion that did not reach agreement on any subject raised," government sources told Al Jazeera, saying the topics included increased refugee flows from Turkey to Europe via Greece.
"There was agreement to continue confidence-building measures, and for both sides not to inflame the climate, but to keep the dialogue open," the source said.
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www.aljazeera.com
Turkey is threatening to send a drilling ship to waters claimed - and defended - by Greece.
..
..
Athens, Greece - Greece and Turkey have come closer to armed conflict after Turkey's surprise delineation of an Exclusive Economic Zone with Libya, experts tell Al Jazeera.
The agreement, signed on November 27 and unveiled on Thursday, maps out a corridor of water stretching across the eastern Mediterranean between the coasts of Turkey and Libya, cutting across a swath that is also claimed by EU member Greece.
EEZs allow countries exclusive rights to exploit natural resources including mineral wealth.
Turkish energy minister Fatih Donmez has announced that, once the agreement is ratified by both sides, Turkish drillships will begin to search there for oil and gas.
Although the Hellenic Navy neither confirms nor denies it, two experts tell Al Jazeera that Greece has dispatched naval forces to the disputed area southeast of Crete.
"If a Turkish drillship does show up, our ships would take action against it, and that could lead to an armed confrontation, because these ships are accompanied by naval vessels. And of course that could ultimately lead to war," says a veteran senior diplomat on condition of anonymity.
International public law professor Angelos Syrigos also confirms that Greek naval forces have been dispatched as a deterrent to Turkish exploration.
"There will be no Turkish drillship. It has been communicated to Turkey that we shall not tolerate any exploration in the area Greece considers to be its EEZ," says Syrigos, who also serves as an MP for the ruling conservative New Democracy party.
Greece to go it alone
"We are preparing for all eventualities on all levels," Greek defence minister Nikos Panayotopoulos told Skai News on Thursday, without elaborating. The navy's chief of staff, Admiral Nikos Tsounis, added: "We shall not wait for anyone to come and help us. Whatever we do, we shall do alone."
A meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit on Wednesday produced no breakthrough.
"It was an open and honest discussion that did not reach agreement on any subject raised," government sources told Al Jazeera, saying the topics included increased refugee flows from Turkey to Europe via Greece.
"There was agreement to continue confidence-building measures, and for both sides not to inflame the climate, but to keep the dialogue open," the source said.
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....
Greece and Turkey closer to armed conflict, say experts
Turkey is threatening to send a drilling ship to waters claimed – and defended – by Greece.
