Kyriakos Mitsotakis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by telephone to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about their dispute over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, a German government spokesman said on Thursday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of Friday's emergency meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, according to reports.

According to the same reports, Mitsotakis briefed Merkel on Turkey's illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

French President Emmanuel Macron reviews an honor guard on the deck of the assault ship Dixmude docked in the French Navy base of Toulon, 19 January 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE/Claude Paris / POOL MAXPPP OUT

He called on Turkey to stop oil and gas exploration in the disputed waters, which has increased tensions with Greece.

With the Turkish Oruc Reis research vessel in the Greek continental shelf and the fleets of both countries in a tense standoff, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a twofold message to Turkey on Wednesday stating that Greece is willing to have an honest dialogue, but will not back way from any challenge.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his support, after the latter announced late Wednesday that France would increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Mitsotakis described Macron as "a true friend of Greece" and an "ardent defender of European values and international law."

France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters that has heightened tensions with Greece.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, to discuss developments in the East Mediterranean and Turkish aggression, as part of the government's diplomatic efforts.

Later, he also spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. 

Close aides of the Greek Prime Minister on Wednesday sought to put an end to talks of an imminent cabinet reshuffle saying that, after returning from his two-day visit to Israel, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he does not intend to go through with it "in the coming days."

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis suggested on Tuesday that he will be making changes in his cabinet. These are expected either immediately or in early July, with the completion of one year since ruling New Democracy was elected to government.