Turkey has extended its illegal Navtex for the seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis until August 27, 2020. The extended NAVTEX has been issue from the Navy Station in Antalya that has no authority to issue such NAVigation TEleX instructions, how much more when it “reserves” areas within the continental shelf of another country, in this case of Greece.
The previous also illegal NAVTEX expires at midnight Sunday.
According to Greek media information, the Oruc Reis is sailing inside the Greek continental shelf in a south-west direction and within the area previously reserved by the NAVTEX in early August.
It is accompanied by auxiliary vessels and ships of the Turkish Navy, and is monitored by units and means of the Greek Armed Forces.
Greek government sources commented on the extension of the illegal Turkish NAVTEX, saying that:
“By continuing its provocative behavior, Turkey is only showing the world that the reference to international law and dialogue is purely superficial. With this behavior, the only thing it succeeds are negative consequences for itself.”
Turkey extends the NAVTEX as German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is scheduled to visit Athens and Ankara on August 25-26 with the aim to de-escalate tension between the two neighboring countries, ahead of the Gymnich meeting, one day later.
At the informal informal meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled in Berlin on August 27-28.Greece will press for sanctions against Turkey.
