Sunday, November 30, 2014

Turkey cautions Greece, others to avoid tension in eastern Med

Turkey cautions Greece, others to avoid tension in eastern Med
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (R) and his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos speak to the media after talks in Ankara on Saturday. (Photo: AP)
November 30, 2014, Sunday/ 15:58:01/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has called on Greece and the other countries that recently announced a new regional energy cooperation deal to avoid raising tension related to energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.
Referring to Greece, Greek Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, Çavuşoğlu said over the weekend that they are independent countries and have the right to cooperate; however, he said Turkey has warned these countries to avoid taking steps that will escalate tension.
Addressing a joint press meeting with Çavuşoğlu, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the alliance does not have a hostile approach to Turkey.
“It is not of a hostile nature against Turkey, and I had the opportunity to say this in my recent interview with a Turkish news outlet: The invitation for Turkey to participate is always open, based on respect for international law and, more specifically, for the international Law of the Sea,” Evangelos was quoted as saying by the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Çavuşoğlu reiterated Turkey's calls for a joint committee or a private company of Turks and Greek Cypriots that would protect the rights of both sides with regard to the use of the island's natural resources.
Turkey recently sent a seismic research vessel called the Barbaros to the region, which Greek Cyprus considers a violation of its territorial waters.
Turkey's foreign minister criticized Greek Cyprus for not focusing on the peace talks and violating the rights of Turkish Cypriots by conducting unilateral oil and gas searches.
Evangelos responded to Çavuşoğlu's remarks by saying the rights of “the Republic of Cyprus” should not be violated and expressed support for the reopening of peace talks in the long-divided island.
In early October, the Greek Cypriot government suspended talks on reunifying the ethnically divided island in response to Turkish plans to search for oil and gas in waters where the Cypriot government has already licensed companies to drill to search for oil and gas.
Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Turkey will not allow Greek Cyprus to monopolize the natural resources in and around Cyprus and vowed not accept a fait accompli in the gas row. “No one can shut us out of the Mediterranean. We may conduct drilling if necessary,” Davutoğlu added.
During the bilateral meetings, Çavuşoğlu and Evangelos also touched on the minority issues in Turkey and Greece, fighting against terrorism and illegal migration.

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