Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to start talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and try to resolve the conflict over the disputed right to drill offshore in the Eastern Mediterranean. RIA Novosti learned about this on Friday, September 18.
“We are always ready for negotiations, even in person or by videoconference,” the Turkish leader said. He also added that if Greece begins to insist that everything is correct on its part, then “such negotiations will lose their meaning.”
Erdogan, in addition, commented on the arrival of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropula to the island of Kastelorizo, located off the coast of Turkey. He noted that he can take retaliatory measures against Greece.
On September 6, it was reported that the Turkish authorities began to transfer dozens of tanks to the border with Greece amid the conflict. Two columns of military equipment headed from the southeastern province of Hatay to the northwestern province of Edirne bordering Greece.
At the same time, on September 1, the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey had offered Greece to “make peace.” According to him, Ankara is open to negotiations. Cavusoglu also believes that Athens is deliberately trying to provoke the Turkish side.
Earlier, the European Union threatened Turkey with sanctions for illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Additional measures against Ankara will be prepared by September 24 in case there is no progress from the Turkish side.
The contradictions over the coast in the Eastern Mediterranean arose in 1974 – then a coup d'etat took place in Cyprus, associated with an attempt by Greece to annex the island. Turkey sent troops to the north of Cyprus and proclaimed a Turkish Cypriot federal state there, later it was renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The rest of the island is now under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey has repeatedly called for joint development of deposits by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, allowing for cooperation with Russia.
