ATHENS: Greece has said it is ready for talks with Turkey over contested Mediterranean waters if Ankara continues “disengaging itself” from the crisis, following the withdrawal of a Turkish exploration vessel from a disputed region.
“Turkey still has time – ahead of and after the (EU) summit – to continue the first encouraging step of disengaging itself from this crisis,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said after talks with EU Council President Charles Michel in Athens.
“If we have tangible proof and this (proof) is continued, we are ready to start immediately – I stress that, immediately – exploratory talks with Turkey regarding our only major dispute, the demarcation of maritime zones in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean,: he said.
Long-running dispute
The long-running dispute between the two NATO members flared up again last month when Turkey sent a ship, the Oruc Reis, to survey waters claimed by Greece. Greek and Turkish warships shadowing the boat collided, highlighting the potential for military escalation.
On Sunday, less than two weeks before EU leaders discuss the crisis, the Oruc Reis returned to port.
The EU said Ankara could face sanctions, a move Turkey has decried as lacking legal basis.