Turkey held Greece and Cyprus responsible for the tension in the eastern Mediterranean, coinciding with its announcement of the abolition of military maneuvers as a goodwill gesture. Moscow called on Ankara and Athens for dialogue to resolve their differences, while Greece accused Turkey of implementing a "new Ottoman vision."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, Monday, that Greece and what he called Roman Cyprus bear responsibility for the current situation in the eastern Mediterranean "for ignoring Turkey's warnings and constructive proposals since 2003."
During a joint press conference with the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar in Ankara, Erdogan said that the Turkish Cypriots support a just and sustainable solution to the island divided since 1974, considering that the other part of the island has no intention of accepting a settlement on the basis of equal partnership.
The Turkish president affirmed that his country adheres to its will to find an urgent and lasting solution in Cyprus, explaining that he will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on November 15th.
Cancellation of the exercises
In turn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara had canceled the military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean as a goodwill gesture.
Turkish security sources also confirmed the cancellation of the notification of "Naftex" (for military training on shooting) announced until October 28, in conjunction with Athens canceling its similar notification, which is valid until the 29th of the same month.
The sources said that Turkey continues to support the dialogue and find a political solution to the disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, based on international law and good-neighborly relations.
The sources added to Anadolu Agency that Turkey - after participating without preconditions in meetings organized by NATO to resolve the conflict - does not hesitate to show goodwill, and that she made this clear during the last meeting of defense ministers of NATO member states after coordination with Greece.
The Russian Foreign Minister (right) with his Greek counterpart in Athens (Anatolia)
Moscow calls for dialogue
On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens - said, "No matter how difficult the situation between Turkey and Greece, we support resolving disputes through mutual dialogue and on the basis of international law and the International Convention on the Law of the Sea." .
Lavrov told the Greek news agency that the third article of the agreement allows countries to extend national waters up to 12 nautical miles.
However, Turkey - which did not sign the agreement - previously warned that such a move by Greece could lead to a war, as some Greek islands are located less than 12 nautical miles from the Turkish coast, which means preventing Turkish ships from entering areas along the coast. Turkish.
For his part, Dendias said at the press conference that "Turkey is determined to escalate tension," and that Greece is ready to protect its "sovereign rights," considering that dialogue "cannot take place under pressure."
Dendias accused Turkey of having a "neo-Ottoman vision" and playing a "destabilizing role" in the region.
The Greek foreign minister considered that supplying Turkey with military equipment only serves to destabilize the region, accusing Turkey of becoming a "travel agency for jihadists."