Turkey on Sunday dismissed Greece’s claims that Ankara conducted seismic research activities in the Greek continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“TURKEY HAS ALREADY EXPLAINED CIRCUMSTANCES TO GREEK AMBASSADOR”
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a “baseless statement” claiming that Turkey has carried out “illegal” activities in the Greek continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The area where our Oruç Reis ship conducts seismic research activities is completely within the continental shelf of our country, which is determined on the basis of international law and registered with the United Nations,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that Turkey had explained the circumstances to the Greek ambassador in Ankara on Oct. 23.
The current study area, where Oruç Reis will conduct seismic research between Oct. 25-Nov. 4, is 440 kilometers (273 miles) from the mainland of Greece and 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Turkey, the ministry stressed.
Turkey is ready for a dialogue and cooperation to achieve a solution that is based on fairness, guaranteeing the legitimate rights of both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots in the region, the ministry said. “We expect Greece to stop creating artificial reasons and preconditions to avoid dialogue with our country,” it added.