25. 01. 2021. 00:00   >>  16:46 0

OPTIMISM AND HOPE

Negotiations between Turkey and Greece on the Mediterranean have begun

Turkey and Greece have agreed to talks over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, both sides said on Tuesday, after German-led efforts to defuse a crisis that has raised fears of conflict.

Last week, Greece doubled its western territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) – the maximum allowed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The France Press source specified that the Greek diplomatic delegation was met by the second man of Turkish diplomacy, Sedat Onal.

Negotiations between Turkey and Greece were suspended in 2016 due to growing tensions.

Turkish gas exploration missions in Greek waters in recent months have led to an unprecedented diplomatic crisis in relations between the two countries since 1996, when they were on the brink of war.

Although Athens expressed "optimism and hope" and Ankara welcomed the "positive atmosphere", no greater progress is expected from these talks.