Paris (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called on Greece and Turkey to coordinate more to ease tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where he announced a strengthening of the French military presence, according to the Elysee.
During a telephone interview with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the head of state once again "expressed his concern about the tensions caused by Turkey's unilateral decisions on oil exploration, which must cease to allow a peaceful dialogue between neighboring countries and allies within NATO ", indicates the presidency in a press release.
"Recalling the importance of settling current disputes through dialogue", he "underlined the need for greater consultation between Greece and Turkey and in this regard welcomed the mediation initiative initiated by Germany" , add text.
"In order to better appreciate the situation in this region of the Mediterranean and mark his desire to ensure respect for international law, the president has decided to temporarily strengthen the French military presence in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming days, in cooperation with European partners, including Greece ", concludes the press release.
The French presidency was not in a position to immediately give details of this strengthening of the French presence.
The discovery in recent years of vast gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean has whetted the appetite of the riparian countries and heightened tensions between Turkey and Greece, neighboring countries and allies within NATO, whose relations are regularly punctuated by crises.
The situation deteriorated on Monday after Ankara deployed a seismic research vessel, escorted by military vessels, in the southeastern Aegean Sea, a disputed area of the Mediterranean rich in gas fields. The Greek navy is also present in the area to "monitor" Turkish activities, according to Athens.
Mitsotakis assured Wednesday that Greece would not seek to worsen the tension, while warning "that no provocation would go unanswered".
© 2020 AFP