To make way for the start of talks between Athens and Ankara
Germany urges an end to the eastern Mediterranean maneuvers after the Turkish escalation
Greek warships during a maneuver in the Mediterranean. ■ a
Yesterday, Germany called for a halt to naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean to pave the way for the start of talks between Greece and Turkey, which are in conflict over gas resources and the demarcation of maritime borders. And discuss the foreign ministers of the European Union, in Berlin, tension in the eastern Mediterranean, where observers fear that the conflict between the two members of NATO will turn into an accidental military confrontation.
Yesterday, Turkey announced military exercises at the edges of its territorial waters in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean, after Greece conducted exercises in which France, Cyprus and Italy participated.
"We need a diplomatic solution to this conflict," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who tried to mediate between the two parties. "The preconditions for these talks are for these maneuvers to stop in the eastern Mediterranean."
"Certainly, the parties will not sit at the table when the warships are facing each other in the eastern Mediterranean," he added.
The European Union is angered by Turkey sending ships to explore for gas in waters claimed by Greece, and earlier this year the bloc imposed sanctions on Turkish citizens over their links to the activities.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, will present to the ministers a "set of options" to deal with Turkey, according to officials, noting that he is keen to stress the importance of continuing the dialogue with Ankara.
While the Berlin meeting is informal and will not produce decisions, European Union leaders will focus on the issue at next month's summit.
The Cypriot Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, upon his arrival in Berlin, said yesterday that "Europe's credibility is at stake. The European Union, a union of 27 member states, must defend global values for an international global order based on the values and principles of the European Union." : "European Union solidarity must be real and tangible."
His Austrian counterpart, Alexander Schallenberg, said that the eastern Mediterranean is a "constantly growing powder keg" and that the number of naval vessels makes accidents "almost inevitable."
He added that "Turkey ignores all the charters, and international law cannot be negotiated."