After renewed tension between Greece and Turkey, Germany urged, Tuesday, August 25, the two countries to settle through direct dialogue their dispute over a disputed area of ​​the eastern Mediterranean rich in hydrocarbons.

"The current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean is like playing with fire," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said during a visit to Athens. "Every little spark can start a disaster."

Heiko Maas, who is also due to discuss with Turkish officials on Tuesday, assured that Germany and its European partners are supporting Greece in this dispute with Turkey.

For his part, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, clarified after this meeting with his German counterpart that Greece was ready for dialogue but that it would defend its sovereign rights, while Turkey continues according to him its "provocations" and "violations of international law". He added that the dispute with Turkey was a problem for the entire European Union and its security.

Seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons involved

The head of Turkish diplomacy, Mevlut Cavusoglu, for his part called on the European Union to play a role of "honest and objective" mediator, while criticizing the Greek position.

"We are open to discussions without preconditions", he assured during a joint press conference with Heiko Maas in Ankara. "But when one of the parties starts by imposing preconditions, there is a lot that we can put forward too. First of all, Greece has to give up its maximalist approach."

The launch of seismic oil exploration operations by Turkey two weeks ago, with the deployment of the Turkish vessel Oruç Reis in an area between Crete and Cyprus, has heightened tensions in the region, Greece deeming this illegal initiative because it encroaches on its underwater domain.

On Monday, Greece issued a navigation message called Navtex indicating that it would organize naval maneuvers on Tuesday in an area off the Greek island of Crete where Oruis Reis already operates.

This announcement led Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to warn Athens, saying that Greece was sowing "chaos" in the Mediterranean.

With Reuters

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