Turkey has issued a new navigational telex (NAVTEX) for its Oruc Reis vessel to continue its survey activities in the east Mediterranean.
The new NAVTEX issued on Wednesday reserves an area south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo until November 23 as the current NAVTEX expires on November 14.
In response, Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, ordered the immediate delivery of a demarche to Turkey and he also briefed Greece’s allies and partners about Turkey’s ongoing illegal behavior.
READ MORE: Erdogan: Turkey will give Greece the ‘answer it deserves’.
“With the new illegal NAVTEX that Turkey has issued, it announces the continuation of its illegal seismic research… in an area within the Greek continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, undermining the peace and stability of the region,” Greece’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“In other words, (Turkey) is trumpeting that it intends to continue ignoring the international community and the recommendations of the European Council to avoid such illegal actions and respect international legality.
“Greece again condemns this provocative behaviour, which makes any prospect of constructive dialogue even more distant, and calls on Turkey to immediately revoke the illegal NAVTEX.”
This was swiftly followed by an anti-NAVTEX message on the part of the Greek government, stating that the Turkish NAVTEX was illegal and the activities it mentions are not authorised in that area.
READ MORE: Greece calls new Turkish survey mission a threat to region, issues counter-Navtex.
