In hijacking the effort of the Turkey to enforce its unlawful claims within the Cyprus EEZ. Continuation of the irregular NAVTEX issued for alleged naval exercises, the occupying power transferred warships to the area where it was to carry out its work on the EastMed pipeline the Nautical Geo research vessel, on behalf of Cyprus, of Greece and of Israel.
The ship is anchored in the port of Larnaca, while two Turkish frigates and a corvette are sailing in its area of action.
The aim of the Turks is, on the one hand, to cancel the construction of the EastMed gas pipeline and, on the other hand, to impose their outrageous positions on the «Blue Homeland».
Further west, it has been conducted - within the Greek EEZ - since Wednesday, the exercise «Eunomiya» with the participation of naval and air assets from Greece, France and Italy. In fact, according to reports, in response yesterday, Greek and French fighter jets flew over the area of the Turkish NAVTEX.
The chronicle of the harassment of the vessel Nautical Geo
After being harassed by a Turkish frigate off Crete, it arrived in the Cypriot EEZ on 28 September and began measurements. On the 2nd of the month, however, the Turkish research vessel arrived in the same area. Orooch Reyes, along with Turkish warships.
One of them threatened the French Nautical Geo by radio, causing it to leave. Consequently, from the second of the month until the following day, Sunday, the Orooch Race was in the area undisturbed. The latest information indicates that the Turkish vessel is now anchored in Antalya of Turkey, but the three warships of Ankara remain in the area.
The reaction of Cyprus
Cyprus has been following the Turkish moves for days, recording them and reacting with complaints through diplomatic channels. This irregular situation also overshadows the exploratory contacts that began yesterday at a technical level between Greece and Turkey in Ankara, with expectations being very low.
The maritime jurisdictions in the Aegean and the East Aegean were discussed behind closed doors. However, the Turkish side also insisted on the issue of the demilitarization of the Aegean islands. The talks will resume in six months in Athens.
