Turkish ship leaves disputed area in Mediterranean; Greece welcomes the decision

Greek government on September 13 welcomed return of a Turkish sea vessel from a disputed area in eastern Mediterranean. According to Associated Press, Oruc Reis research ship, which h been working in disputed waters since July, returned to a port near sourn city of Antalya for first time. Hailing decision, Greece said that it was a “positive signal.”

"This is a positive signal. We will see how this develops to make a proper assessment,″ Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told TV channel Skai.

Tensions between Greece and Turkey flared earlier this year after Turkey sent Oruc Reis research ship into a potential oil and gas reserve, claimed by Greece as its own. It also led to a military build-up in eastern Mediterranean region with both nations dispatching warships to area. However, NATO, which has cordial relations with both, intervened, organizing talks between two countries' militaries to prevent a potential armed conflict.

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This comes a day after Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis anunced a “robust” arms purchase programme along with an overhaul of country's military. Asserting that ' time has come', Mitsotakis accused Turkey of “threatening” Europe’s eastern border and undermining regional security. Turko-Greek conflict escalated after Ankara, in August, sent an exploration ship to Greek-owned waters.  

Turko-Greek clash

Greece and Turkey have faced off against each or in recent weeks as Turkish survey vessels and drillships continue to prospect for gas in waters where Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive ecomic rights. Greek and Turkish armed forces have been conducting military exercises in area in a show of muscle-flexing to underscore each side’s resolve.

European Union members Greece and Cyprus accused Turkey of violating international law and of “gunboat diplomacy.” Turkey insists it’s defending its rights and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots on ethnically split Cyprus to ir rightful share of area’s potential gas deposits. Meanwhile, Greece has called upon European Union to "show its teeth" and impose tough ecomic sanctions against Turkey, if country refuses to remove its military vessels and drillships from waters in eastern Mediterranean. 

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(With inputs and im credit to AP)