Turkey has announced a four-day extension of its illegal NAVTEX for gas exploration inside Greece’s continental shelf, according to ANA-MPA.
The previous NAVTEX, which expired on Sunday, was extended with Turkish seismic vessel Oruc Reis sailing southwest accompanied by Turkish Navy ships.
The new advisory says the work of the Oruc Reis and two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han, would continue until August 27.
Greek government sources have commented on the extension of the illegal Turkish NAVTEX, saying that:
“By continuing its provocative behavior, Turkey is only showing the world that the reference to international law and dialogue is purely superficial. With this behavior, the only thing it succeeds in are negative consequences for itself.”
This extenstion comes as Germany’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, is scheduled to visit Athens and Ankara on August 25-26 with the aim to de-escalate tension between the two neighboring countries.
At the informal informal meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled in Berlin on August 27-28, Greece will press for sanctions against Turkey.
