Turkey Deploys Research Vessel in Disputed Aegean Zone

Tensions successful the Aegean escalated connected Monday aft Turkey issued a navigational advisory (NAVTEX) announcing that its oceanographic vessel Piri Reis will behaviour probe successful contested waters for ten days, opening September 15.

The Turkish NAVTEX, published via the Izmir station, outlines planned enactment successful a wide zone stretching west of Lesbos, south of Chios, and adjacent the small land of Kalogeros, situated betwixt Chios and Andros. The ngo is acceptable to tally done September 25.

Greece reacted immediately, with the Hellenic Navy’s hydrographic work issuing a counter-NAVTEX from its station connected Lemnos. Athens stressed that respective of the coordinates successful the Turkish announcement autumn within Greek jurisdiction, and officials confirmed they are intimately monitoring the vessel’s movements.

The beingness of the Piri Reis adjacent Kalogeros is viewed arsenic peculiarly sensitive. The country is regularly designated arsenic a live-fire training zone by the Greek Armed Forces, a signifier that Ankara has agelong criticized.

Diplomatic sources successful Athens noted that while the Piri Reis is technically susceptible of carrying retired such surveys, the cognition raises “serious questions of jurisdiction and sovereignty,” since overmuch of the vessel’s declared way passes done Greece’s continental support and adjacent to its territorial waters.

Questions person besides been raised implicit the legality of the Turkish NAVTEX itself, since work for issuing such advisories successful the country belongs to the Greek station connected Lemnos, not Izmir.

The timing of Ankara’s determination is notable: it comes conscionable days aft U.S. vigor elephantine Chevron submitted a ceremonial connection for exploration south of Crete, contempt Turkey’s objections and its contested maritime memorandum with Libya. It besides coincides with renewed discussions implicit the planned energy interconnection betwixt Greece and Cyprus.

Source: tovima.com