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High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell Fontelles has warned Turkey against any unilateral actions in the Eastern Mediterranean amid increasing tensions with Greece.
The foreign ministers of 27 EU countries had a meeting in Germany's capital city of Berlin today (August 28), with the Eastern Mediterranean crisis as the main issue on the agenda. Borrell made the above remarks to reporters while the unofficial meeting was still ongoing. In his first statements, he has called on Turkey to discuss the issue with the EU.
The final decision to be held next month
Making a statement about possible sanctions on Turkey, Borrell has said that they have agreed on sanctions to be imposed on Turkey.
Borrell has indicated that the sanctions could possibly apply to Turkey's ships and the Union has now been listing the names related to the dispute. It has been further noted that measures such as freezing of sectoral activities and assets might also be in question.
However, no decision is expected to be made about Turkey in today's meeting because in his visit to Greece and Turkey, Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas said that the issue of possible sanctions should be discussed at the EU summit next month.
Merkel: We have an obligation support Greece
* Photo: AA
On the other side, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the Eastern Mediterranean crisis in her speech during her traditional annual summer news conference today. She has underlined that all EU countries have an obligation to support Greece.
As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Merkel has also reiterated her call for dialogue between Turkey and Greece over the offshore energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"I made an effort to reduce tension. Sometimes this is only possible with both parties speaking over and over again," she has said.
"The discussion regarding the distribution of economic zones can only be carried out together. Germany is making an effort for this," she added.
"As EU member states, we all have a duty to take our Greek friends' rights seriously and support them where they are right."
Merkel has also indicated that he discussed the relations with Turkey "intensely" with President of France Emmanuel Macron.
"These relationships are multifaceted. Turkey is a NATO ally. The dispute is between two NATO members. For this reason, these things within the alliance need to be clarified," she has said.
Latest developments in the Eastern MediterraneanThe tension between Turkey and Greece over their right to explore energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean has seriously escalated over the last months. The latest developments leading to this escalation are briefly as follows: On July 28, Turkey announced that it suspended hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and stated that it was ready to talk with Greece. On August 6, Greece and Egypt signed a maritime border agreement. On August 10, Turkey announced that its drillship Oruç Reis would resume energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. It said the ship will continue its work along with the ships Cengiz Han and Ataman until August 23. On August 14, the EU foreign miniters discussed the crisis at an extraordinary meeting, calling on Turkey to end hydrocarbon exploration activities in contested waters. On August 16, Turkey issued a Navtex, announcing that its drill ship Yavuz will continue its work exploring for energy resources off the island of Cyprus. On August 23, Turkey issued another Navtex, stating that the Oruç Reis vessel would continue its activities until August 27. On August 24, Greece issued a Navtex, saying that its air and naval forces would hold joint exercises in an area overlapping with the one Turkey declared a day before. On August 25, Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas visited Athens and Ankara to encourage the two countires to have direct talks. On the same day, Turkey held replenishment exercises with Italy in the Eastern Mediterranean. On August 26, US President Donald Trump had phone talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, urging them to reduce tensions and start dialogue. On the same day, Turkey and the US conducted joint maritime exercises. |
(PT/SD)
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