Filenews 29 September 2021
One day after the strategic agreement between Greece and France, Turkey continues the tactic of tension that it has recently reintroduced in the Eastern Mediterranean. With NAVTEX issued it binds an area that encloses Kastelorizo and extends within the Cyprus EEZ.
As stated in the naval directive, the research vessel[s] will carry out surveys in this area until October 9th.
It is noted that until October 8, the research vessel "Bilim-2" will be moving in the same area, for which a larger area has been reserved. The surveys of "Bilim-2" will take place within the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone and the area of responsibility where the Hydrographic Station of Heraklion has formal jurisdiction for the NAVTEX issue, but Ankara has issued its own NAVTEX challenging Greece's positions.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, in a written statement said that "the Turkish navy, which is one of the strongest in the region, defends the rights and interests of our country in the 'Blue Homeland' and flies our flag from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and contributes to regional world peace."
Irritation over the Greek-French agreement
Ankara's irritation about the agreement between Greece and France has been evident since yesterday, with the Turkish media "seeing" the... Turkey behind the reinforcement of the Greek Armed Forces.
"Athens, which is increasingly turning against Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, has reached a new agreement with its ally, France," points out a publication on the Milliyet website, titled "Warships against Turkey", apparently to dispel the impressions and create a climate.
In fact, he also refers to the purchase of the 24 Rafale from Greece, "which received the most support from France and the USA in the Crisis of the Eastern Mediterranean".
"Defence agreement between Greece and France" is the headline of the pro-government newspaper YeniSafak, which reproduces Macron's statements that "we must work together to protect Greece from aggression."
In the same vein, but visibly more "annoyed", the website haber3 is presented. Titled "Greece's fear of Turkey has a cost", he argues that "Athens, which often purchases Turkey military equipment, both in the Aegean and in the Mediterranean, bought frigates paying €3 billion in France'.
