Turkey says Greece failed to fulfill promises, vows response

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Greece and Cyprus of failing to fulfill “promises” me during negotiations within European Union and NATO and said his country would continue to give m “ response y deserve."

Erdogan’s comments came days after Ankara redeployed its search vessel, Oruc Reis, for a new energy exploration mission in disputed waters in eastern Mediterranean, reigniting tensions with Greece and Cyprus over sea boundaries and exploration rights. Turkish media reports said two navy frigates are showing search vessel.

Those tensions h flared up over summer, prompting a military buildup, bellicose rhetoric and fears of a confrontation between two NATO members and historic regional rivals.

“Our Oruc Reis has returned to its duty in Mediterranean,” Erdogan told legislators of his ruling party in a speech in parliament. “We will continue to give response y deserve on field, to Greece and Greek Cypriot ministration who have t kept ir promises during talks within EU and NATO platforms.”

He didn't spell out what promises were but Turkish officials have been accusing Greek officials of engaging in a series of “provocations” despite efforts to revive so-called exploratory talks between neighbors that were aimed at resolving disputes and were last held in 2016.

Heiko Maas, foreign minister of Germany, which has been mediating between Ans and Ankara in a bid to east tensions, criticized Turkey on Tuesday for taking “unilateral steps” in eastern Mediterranean which he said were undercutting efforts to deescalate tensions. U.S. State Department issued a statement deploring Turkey’s move.

Ankara says Oruc Reis was redeployed following provocative acts by Ans, including a decision to hold military drills in Aegean Sea on Turkey’s main national holiday.

During his speech, Erdogan also rebuffed international criticism over Turkey’s move to open beachfront of Cyprus’ fenced-off suburb of Varosha in divided Cyprus’ breakaway Turkish Cypriot rth.

“ fenced-off Varosha region belongs to Turks of rrn Cyprus. This should be kwn as such,” he said.

Varosha remained off-limits and in Turkish military control after its Greek Cypriot residents fled before vancing troops in 1974 when Turkey inved and sliced island along ethnic lines after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Separately, Erdogan declared that he would on Saturday anunce details of discovery a new natural gas reserve off Black Sea coast. In August, Turkey anunced discovery of 320 billion cubic meters of gas, which country said would help ease country’s dependence on imports.

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