Latest News from Turkey

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Friday's emergency meeting of the European Union Council of Foreign Affairs that Turkey is the only one to blame for the escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and must leave the Greek continental shelf immediately.

The average Greek naturally feels concerned and insecure about the persisting tension in Greek-Turkish relations.

All sorts of pundits and journalists that are purported champions of the notions of "political correctness" and "equal distance" are here presented with a good opportunity to express their opinion in public.

Any move against Turkey's vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean will get a response, the country's defense minister, Hulusi Akar, said in a video message to Turkish crew members.

"Everyone must know how determined we are on this issue," Akar was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

Marking 46 years since the second phase of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, the Greek president said that the perennial national goal is to end the occupation of the island's northern part by Turkish troops.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou said that fresh threats and provocations by Ankara "are not going to distract us from our national priorities."

European Union foreign ministers prepared Friday for urgent talks on military tensions between Greece and Turkey as the neighboring countries' navies continued a game of brinkmanship over eastern Mediterranean drilling rights.

Turkey has urged Greece to avoid provocative actions against its research vessel Oruç Reis deployed in the eastern Mediterranean or it will be retaliated in kind, a statement in reference to an incident between the two countries involving a frigate, which was later described as "an accident" by the Greek authorities.