Eastern Mediterranean

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has reiterated criticism of Turkey's decision to reopen part of the beachfront of Varosha, a resort abandoned since Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974.

The understanding between the Greek and Turkish Ministries of Foreign Affairs is that the diplomatic missions will discuss on January 25 the point where exploratory contacts ended in 2016 and the issues that may have been added to the agenda of each country.

The priorities of the Portuguese EU presidency which commenced on 1 January, the upcoming Greek-Turkish exploratory talks, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the migration crisis were the focus of talks in Lisbon today between Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias and his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva.

Turkey has issued another navigational telex, or Navtex, for the area in the Eastern Mediterranean where it will conduct seismic research activities. 

According to Dec. 22's announcement, the mission, which will be carried out by the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel, will continue until June 15, 2021.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke over the phone with the head of the European Council, an official statement said on Dec. 15.

The statement by Turkey's Communications Directorate said Charles Michel called Erdoğan to inform him and exchange views on the recently held EU summit.

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt met with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Athens on Tuesday to brief the Greek official on the US government's recent decision to impose sanctions on Turkey over Ankara's purchase of a Russian missile defense system.

No sanctions coming from the EU will change Turkey's positions on its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, the country's foreign minister said on Dec. 14. 

"It is not possible to give up our rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean just because sanctions will come or because the EU will criticize us," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told lawmakers during 2021 budget debates in parliament.

We Greeks tend to believe that just because we know we're right about something, everyone else should as well. But it is a big world we're living in, with dozens of disputes and problems. What happens in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean is important to us, but not necessarily to anyone else beyond a group of politicians, diplomats and experts.

President Klaus Iohannis participated today in a video-conference meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union Member States accredited in Bucharest, on the occasion of the traditional biannual meeting organized by Germany, as the current holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In what is viewed in Athens as yet another rant, Turkey slammed Greece on Thursday for not participating in the scheduled meeting of the Greek-Turkish military committees under NATO auspices, claiming it is raising "obstacles" to efforts to secure a safe environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.