New Turkish NAVTEX for Oruç Reis vessel

Turkey issued a new Navigation Telex (NAVTEX) for the Oruç Reis vessel to carry out activities south of the island of Kastellorizo, until October 22.

It is recalled the Turkish Oruc Reis research vessel returned to Turkey mid-September after violating the Greek and Cypriot continental shelf and maritime space for over a month.

Two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han will accompany the Oruç Reis over the next ten days.

Former SYRIZA Minister: Sink the Oruç Reis if it comes within 12 miles of Greece

It is recalled Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu last week.

Last month, Turkey’s withdrawal of the Oruç Reis and the warships escorting it opened up a new opportunity for Greece and Turkey to begin dialogue to resolve their differences in the East Mediterranean peacefully. However, it is likely that this plan for dialogue will end before it even begins as even discussion topics cannot be agreed upon. Athens insists that dialogue should only concentrate on the demarcation of maritime borders between Greece and Turkey, while Ankara says that any dialogue must also include discussions of Greece demilitarizing its East Aegean islands that lay directly opposite Turkey’s coastline – in many cases only a few minutes boat ride away.