Ankara halts ship, Athens on alert

Questions swirled connected Tuesday implicit Turkey’s determination not to proceed with planned oceanographic probe successful the Aegean Sea, contempt a navigation announcement that indicated operations would statesman aboriginal Monday.

According to Navtex 0863/25, issued by Turkey’s Hydrographic Service successful Izmir, the probe vessel Piri Reis was scheduled to start technological surveys west of the islands of Lesvos and Chios connected Monday morning. Instead, the vessel was shown anchored successful Izmir’s marina done precocious Tuesday evening.

The International Maritime Organization listed the vessel arsenic immobilized owed to technical problems. Ankara, however, signaled that the hold was not political, stressing that wind and existent conditions indispensable conscionable specific thresholds earlier the work tin commence. “The task whitethorn statesman whenever deemed suitable,” Turkish sources noted.

The uncertainty initially raised interest successful Athens. On Friday, aft receiving aboriginal word of Ankara’s plans, Greek subject leaders were instructed to representation retired imaginable responses successful lawsuit tensions escalated. As portion of those precautions, Greece temporarily withdrew two frigates assigned to migrant patrols disconnected Libya’s coast.

Ultimately, the Turkish ship’s beingness successful Izmir suggested that diplomatic channels betwixt Athens and Ankara whitethorn person been astatine play. Multiple contacts are already under way up of a planned gathering adjacent week successful New York betwixt Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, connected the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the hold coincides with heightened determination discussions implicit maritime zones successful the Eastern Mediterranean. The announcement by US vigor elephantine Chevron of involvement south of Crete has further accelerated talks. Analysts suggest that American governmental and commercialized engagement could service arsenic a catalyst, though advancement will hinge connected the willingness of the straight progressive parties to scope agreements.

In Athens connected Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is scheduled to big his Libyan counterpart, acting curate Taher Salem Al Baour. Greek officials accidental the intent is not “a philological discussion” but alternatively the presumption of maps showing Greece’s positions connected maritime zones adjacent to Libya. Following the meeting, the archetypal technical discussions betwixt Greek and Libyan committees connected exclusive economical zone delimitation are expected to beryllium set.