Constantinople, Manolis Kostidis

On Thursday, the Turkish media reported extensively on the scene of tension outside of Kasou set up by Ankara. Turkey seems to have tried to take advantage of the investigations of the Italian ship in order to challenge Greek sovereign rights, annul the demarcated Greek EEZ based on the Greek-Egyptian Agreement and consolidate the Turkish-Libyan memorandum.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned the issue of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, confirming Turkish intransigence.

On the question of whether the Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions signed by Libya and Turkey in 2019 will be reviewed, Minister Fidan characteristically stated that “we and Libya, as you know, have settled this issue between us. This may have caused problems in other countries, but this is not our problem. What matters is that the work we do is done according to the law and based on mutual consent. That’s what we’re looking at.”

In a question about Turkey’s military presence in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, Hakan Fidan claimed the following:

“The Cyprus issue is a long-term issue, as you know. There, since 1960, especially between 63-74, great atrocities were committed against the Turkish community by the EOKA gangs. There they tried to displace the Turkish Cypriots.”

“In 1974, the ‘Operation Peace’ [σσ. εισβολή] of Cyprus. Since July 20, 1974, there has been peace on the island, and since then no one has died. This is something extremely valuable. That is, due to the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces on the island, peace prevails on the island and the two communities live peacefully. We have soldiers on the island anyway. This is a well-known truth. We have thousands of soldiers there. There are our various capabilities, there are also our ships. We will continue our peaceful activities there” the Turkish Foreign Minister defiantly interpreted.

“Diplomacy prevented the crisis in the Aegean”

The issue of the tension that occurred off Kasos with an Italian research ship is being addressed today Thursday by the Turkish media.

HURRY: “Diplomacy prevented the crisis in the Aegean”

“The tension with Athens in the Aegean was resolved after a day of intensive diplomacy”

“While the reactions continue in Turkey over the insolent statements of the Greek Minister of Health Nikos Dendias and Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis, Greece’s attempt to violate the Turkish continental shelf has caused tension. The tension started when the Greek side declared NAVTEX and sent the Italian research vessel Levoli to the area to carry out studies on the laying of an underwater electric cable in the future. Turkey issued anti-NAVTEX. Turkey reacted because the area announced by Greece as an investigation zone was partly within the maritime jurisdiction zone it had signed with Libya in 2020.

Turkey responded by sending 5 warships to the area where the violation of the continental shelf was attempted. Greece attempted to retaliate by sending 2 warships and a Coast Guard ship to the same area. The tension that started on Monday was resolved on Tuesday night without further escalation, as a result of the intense diplomatic movement between Ankara and Athens.

“The ‘red phones’ (direct lines of communication) were activated at the highest level. In the evening hours of Tuesday, the news reached Athens that “the situation is calming down”. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told Open TV: “The Italian ship completed its work at 04:00 this morning (Wednesday), which started at 23:00 on Tuesday night. As can be seen, communication channels have been activated at the diplomatic level.”

SOZCU: “The ship that caused tension in the Mediterranean has left”

“The tension that alarmed the Turkish navy in the Mediterranean has ended. The Italian-flagged ship “Ievoli Relume”, which is carrying out work on the seabed to connect ‘South Cyprus’ and Crete with electric cables, had started its work off the island of Kasos the previous evening. When the ship, which was accompanied by a Greek warship, came close to Turkish territorial waters [sic], Turkish warships also moved to the area and began monitoring it. Tension increased with Greece sending additional ships. It was announced that the Ievoli Relume left the area last night without completing the announced work program and went to Crete. Greek warships also left the area.”

MILLIYET: “There was no room for violation on the Turkish continental shelf”

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, two important developments took place within a month regarding Turkey’s registration of the borders of the continental shelf as well as the implementation of a state. The work of the Italian cable-laying vessel C/S Teliri in the Mediterranean Sea under the cable agreement between Egypt, Israel, the ‘E/C Administration of Cyprus’ and Greece had caused tension with Navtex in late June.

»Similar tension was noted this week. The Italian-flagged ship named Ievoli Relume had undertaken to carry out research activities for the planned electrical connection between Cyprus and Crete. The Heraklion Station of the Hellenic Naval Command published with a Navtex on July 22 the coordinates of the area where the ship Ievoli Relume would conduct surveys on July 23-24.

“Subsequently, in the Navtex issued by the Antalya Station at 01.30 on July 23, it was emphasized that part of the area in question is within the Turkish continental shelf. In addition, the T/Navy sent 5 warships to the area. Greece, on the other hand, took the decision to send Coast Guard patrols to the area. As developments continued, a request was made to the Turkish authorities for the Italian ship. Following this, the Antalya station issued a new Navtex at 23.07 on Tuesday night (July 23) and announced the coordinates of the line where the ship will conduct surveys within the Turkish continental shelf.