Turkey eyes area off Kastellorizo

Athens is observing with concern as Turkey continues to plan to prospect for hydrocarbons south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo despite warnings from the European Union of sanctions over its drilling off Cyprus.

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation, known by its acronym TPAO, has lodged a request with the leadership of the Turkish Navy to conduct seismic research in an area stretching from the south of Rhodes to beyond Kastellorizo after August 15.

By then, the mission of the Turkish Oruc Reis research vessel in the Sea of Marmara will have been completed and and it is deemed likely that it will move to the Eastern Mediterranean toward the end of next month, as Ankara has already indicated.

Greek defense and diplomatic officials are observing Turkey's maneuvering in the Eastern Mediterranean with growing concern, though the government has repeatedly issued...

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