Greek government officials have scrambled this week in an attempt to respond in a diplomatic manner to reduce tensions in the southeastern Aegean as Turkey deployed warships after a research ship entered international waters.
The research ship of concern was the Italian-flagged Ievoli Relume, that had been surveying the area near Kasos to assess suitability for the future installation of undersea cables to connect Crete and Cyprus – the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).
Concerns rose after Turkey deployed five vessels over 24 hours to the area near Kasos, as they claimed the Turkish continental shelf had been dishonoured.
According to Ekathimerini, Greek warships were said to also have been deployed.
Turkey sent two frigates and a corvette, while only one Greek gunboat Aittitos was present. The arrival of two Turkish missile cutters however, provoked the deployment of Greek frigate Nikiforos Fokas.
Later, two more Turkish Navy vessels arrived in the area while Athens retreated rather sending out a coastguard patrol vessel to the area.
In response, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told Skai radio that while Greece is seeking dialogue, sovereign issues are not up for discussion.
Source: Ekathimerini.
