Eastern Mediterranean: the Turkish ship at the heart of tensions with Athens has returned to port
The mission of the "Oruc Reis" had been extended three times since its deployment on August 10.
REUTERS / Yoruk Isik
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The Turkish seismic research vessel, whose deployment in waters claimed by Greece has escalated tensions between Athens and Ankara, returned to the Turkish coast over the weekend.
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These are perhaps the first signs of an appeasement between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, where the two countries are fighting over the sovereignty of areas potentially rich in hydrocarbons.
A month after its deployment, the Turkish ship
Oruc Reis
finally returned to port.
Athens hailed "
a first positive step
".
If it is still too early to speak of appeasement, it is the first time in weeks that the tension has dropped a notch between the Greek and Turkish neighbors.
Dissension between Athens and Ankara is at its highest since Turkey deployed this seismic boat, escorted by warships, on August 10 to explore off the Greek island of Kastellorizo, 2 km from the Turkish coast .
The unease worsened further at the end of August, when the two countries carried out rival military maneuvers, Turkey with the United States then Russia, Greece with France, Cyprus and Italy.
Turkey is also conducting surveys in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, a European Union (EU) country that it does not recognize due to the partition of the island.
The mission of
Oruc Reis
, extended three times despite protests from Greece and the EU, came to an end on Saturday and was therefore not extended.
But Turkey does not rule out redeploying its ship in the disputed area.
"
There will be back and forth,
" "
there is no question of giving up our rights,
" declared its Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akar, visiting the seaside town of Kas, located just opposite.
But the Turkish minister also called for dialogue during this trip, reports our correspondent in Istanbul,
Anne Andlauer
.
"
We really want to arrive at a solution by peaceful methods
", he assured, before accusing France of adding fuel to the fire and pushing Greece into an "
arms race
" .
The day before, Athens had announced a program to purchase weapons including French combat aircraft.
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