Greek officials have said that they are ready for exploratory talks with Turkey regarding their dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean if Ankara continues to “disengage itself” from the crisis. The Greek government on Sunday welcomed the return of Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis to its port at Antalya from the disputed waters, which have been at the heart of the standoff between the two nations over offshore exploration rights. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said it was a “positive” first step, and that if Turkey continues to take such de-escalation measures, he would be “the first to sit at the negotiating table”.
The deployment of Oruç Reis in July triggered a military buildup in the Eastern Mediterranean, raising concerns about conflict erupting in the area by accident. Turkey has also criticized European powers, like France, for rallying behind Greece, and accused the European Union (EU) of using Greece as “bait” against a “regional and global power like Turkey”, while referring to the bloc’s threat of sanctions against Ankara.
NATO has offered to broker talks between the two sides regarding deconfliction mechanisms, while Germany—who currently holds the EU presidency—has taken the lead in launching a diplomatic effort to engage the two countries in a dialogue. Chances of constructive engagement between the NATO members have faced constant roadblocks, the most recent being last month when tensions hit a new high after Greece and Egypt signed a maritime deal, which Turkey claimed violated its continental shelf.
Though the threat of EU sanctions is still intact, the withdrawal of the Oruç Reis seems to have made both, Athens and Ankara, more willing to work towards a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Though Turkey had said that the vessel would resume work following regular maintenance, a senior Turkish official told Al Jazeera that it could stay put for longer in order to give dialogue a chance. However, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Sunday that Turkey supports peace and dialogue “if our wishes and demands are fulfilled,” and blamed Athens for escalating tensions through its military buildup in the disputed area.
The EU, which is expected to discuss the issue at its upcoming summit later this month, has also said that it hopes for a peaceful resolution process that could, perhaps, involve several other countries to make it more comprehensive. European Council (EUCO) President Charles Michel said that the bloc was “discussing the idea of a multilateral conference because, beyond bilateral dialogue, there is probably the need to bring the different countries to the table in order to deal with the different issues”.
Athens Says It Is Ready for Talks with Ankara Regarding Maritime Demarcation
Greek officials have said that dialogue will be possible if Ankara continues to “disengage itself” from the crisis.
September 16, 2020
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. SOURCE: MIDDLE EAST MONITOR/AA