Franco-Greek military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on August 13, 2020. -

/ AP / SIPA

While tensions are still high between the two countries, "good progress" in military talks between Greece and Turkey to avoid clashes in the eastern Mediterranean has been achieved, NATO reported on Wednesday.

The military officials of the two countries had had half a dozen meetings at NATO headquarters to try to agree on a "deconfliction mechanism" to avoid the risk of accidental air or sea clashes, the secretary announced. General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg.

"An important step in the right direction"

"These meetings are underway and good progress has been made," he assured after talks at NATO headquarters with the head of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez.

“These are technical military talks.

They complement the diplomatic efforts led by Germany to resolve the conflict, ”he said.

Tensions have increased in recent months between Greece and Turkey, two NATO members, and the fear of an armed clash over a naval incident has been raised.

Germany has undertaken mediation and Athens and Ankara on Tuesday agreed to start bilateral talks to try to resolve the crisis.

Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the move, and Pedro Sanchez described it as "an important step in the right direction".

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