Turkey’s illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterraenan undermine stability and security and are a threat to all countries in the region, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said during a visit to Israel on Thursday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean waters would incur a “high price” and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning.
Tensions between Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean and the stand-off between the two countries’ navies is the main focus in Turkish media for a second day in a row, with Hürriyet writing “Turkey did not back down and did what it said”.
Turkey wants to resolve a dispute with Greece over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean through dialogue, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday, but added that Ankara would defend its “rights and interests” in the region.
The nervous stand-off between Greek and Turkish warships in the eastern Mediterranean continues, as Turkish research ship Oruc Reis has been sailing in the Greek waters since Monday afternoon, escorted by five Turkish warships and two smaller research ships, the Ataman and the Cengiz Han.
A poll has found that Greeks are more willing to go to war with Turkey, compared to Turks willing to go to war with Greece.
The Hellenic Daily News is the leading International Online Greek News Portal and News Agency based in New York City with worldwide influence, Greek News 24/7 from Greece, USA, Cyprus, Australia, Canada and all over the world.
press@hellenicdailynewsny.com
