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Κυριακή, 28 Οκτωβρίου 2018 23:36

Ankara ramps up tension in eastern Aegean with latest Navtex

Official Turkey continued to ratchet up the tension in the eastern Aegean by issuing a navigational telex (NAVTEX) on Saturday essentially surrounding the Greek isle of Kastellorizo, in the extreme southeast corner of the Aegean for four hours next Wednesday.

Official Turkey continued to ratchet up the tension in the eastern Aegean by issuing a navigational telex (NAVTEX) on Saturday essentially surrounding the Greek isle of Kastellorizo, in the extreme southeast corner of the Aegean for four hours next Wednesday.

The notification claims that a search and rescue exercises by the Turkish navy will take place in international waters just outside the isle's territorial waters.

The  development follows last week's saber-rattling by Ankara, mostly threats of possible military action in case Athens exercises its right, under international law, to extend its territorial waters, as well as exploration by a Turkish survey ship in Cyprus' EEZ - viewed as harassment to impede the island republic and its international partners from drilling in eastern Mediterranean.