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Reuters reported. “We don’t feel obliged to Greek PM to meet with two drilling ships, the Fatih and Yavuz,
talk with those who do not have rights in to waters off Cyprus. The Greek foreign
maritime jurisdiction zones.” military chiefs after Turkey ministry said the latest mission was a “new
Turkey’s Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa, serious escalation” and “exposed” Turkey’s
a seismic survey vessel, was sent to the sends seismic vessel to “destabilising role”.
region to fulfil its duties, he added. The Last week, Greece and Egypt signed a
ship moved into waters off Cyprus in late disputed waters deal to create an exclusive economic zone
July. Meanwhile, the Turkish navy issued a (EEZ) in waters that contain oil and gas
statement saying that the Oruc Reis vessel Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis called a reserves. The deal conflicts with a rival
would carry out a seismic survey in the meeting with military chiefs on August EEZ that Turkey and the internationally-
area. The navy said the vessel would be 10 after Turkey issued an international recognised government in Libya have
operating in the area from August 10-23. maritime alert, known as a Navtex, to attempted to establish. Such zones can
Writing on Twitter, Turkey’s Energy inform all parties that it had sent a ship, the extend for 200 nautical miles.
Minister Fatih Donmez said that the Oruc Reis, to conduct a seismic survey in a The Republic of Cyprus has EEZ accords
Oruc Reis had reached the location of disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean. with Lebanon, Egypt and Israel. They are
operation. The mission of the vessel is to aid the also related to the development of offshore
Erdogan made the comments when search for potentially rich oil and gas energy resources.
asked about an accord signed by Egypt deposits south of the Greek island of Separately, August 10 also saw the
and Greece last week that designated an Kastellorizo. The voyage of the Oruc Reis, Greek City Times report that Cyprus and
exclusive economic zone between the accompanied by two auxiliary vessels, France have signed a defence cooperation
two nations in the east Mediterranean. was suspended by Turkey last month agreement.
Diplomats in Greece said their agreement amid mounting international concern. The two-year Cyprus-France Defence
nullified an accord reached last year However, Ankara last week accused Cooperation Agreement, said to have
between Turkey and the internationally Greece of breaching pledges it has made taken effect on August 1, covers energy,
recognised government of Libya. in the pursuit of a resolution to rows over crisis management, counter-terrorism and
However, Erdogan said the Egypt-Greece overlapping territorial claims in the eastern maritime security cooperation between the
accord was of no value and that Turkey Mediterranean.There are also tensions two countries.
would sustain its agreement with Libya around Cyprus over rival exploration The leaders of the two countries have
“decisively”. The Turkish Foreign Ministry rights. The Republic of Cyprus and Greece, also reportedly agreed to hold joint
has alleged that the Egypt-Greece zone falls which have received vocal backing from exercises and organise mutual visits in the
in the area of Turkey’s continental shelf. France, do not accept any such rights for framework of activities of the armed forces
Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus in of the two countries..
the region, while Turkey says the claimed
rights are legitimate. Last year Turkey sent

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