Turkey-Greece ties face new round of tension over reserves in Mediterranean

Source:Hurriyet Daily News Date:20Oct2018

Ties between Turkey and Greece are facing a new source of tension on military terms, this time due to natural reserves in the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkish Naval Forces have interdicted a Greek warship as it harassed a Turkish seismic vessel off Cyprus, as Turkish frigate TCG Giresun was already in the mission for protection of seismic vessel Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, a Turkish official told Hürriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity.

A  second Turkish energy exploration ship will continue to operate in the Mediterranean Sea, the energy minister said on Friday, after Ankara said the navy stopped a Greek frigate from harassing the ship.

“Turkish Petroleum’s exploration ship will continue its activities in line with Turkey’s rights,” Energy Minister Fatih Donmez told reporters in the western coastal province of Izmir, referring to the state-owned oil company.