Germany Warns Turkey against Provocation in Eastern Mediterranean

On Tuesday, Germany warned Turkey of the consequences of its provocations in the eastern Mediterranean.

“Turkey should refrain from provocation in a gas dispute in the eastern Mediterranean,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday, adding Germany stood in solidarity with Cyprus and Greece as EU partners, according to AP.

He also called on Turkey to remain open for talks and not to resume gas exploration in the controversial sea areas.

A Turkish ship sailed, on Monday, to carry out seismic surveys in the eastern Mediterranean, prompting Greece to issue a furious new demand for European Union sanctions on Ankara in a row over offshore exploration rights.

Greece’s foreign ministry described the new move as a major escalation and a direct threat to peace in the region.

Earlier last month, Ankara withdrew the ship from disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean to give room for diplomacy before an EU summit at which Cyprus called for sanctions against Turkey.