Germany's Maas Holds Mediation Talks in Athens, Greece

This morning, the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas went on a mediation mission between Athens and Ankara, during a visit to Greec and Turkey, as both countries began parallel military exercises yesterday in the eastern Mediterranean.

Shortly before boarding his plane, German Minister called for "dialogue" and "a breakthrough" in the tension over gas exploration.

“The windows for dialogue between Greece and Turkey must now be opened further and not closed,” he wrote in an e-mail earlier. “Instead of new provocations, we finally need steps toward an easing of tensions and to initiate direct discussions," said Maas.

“The current situation in the eastern Mediterranean is equivalent to playing with fire,” he said in Athens. “Every little spark can lead to catastrophe.”

"Instead of new provocations, we need to take détente measures and start direct talks," the minister added, at a time when Ankara intensified displays of force in a disputed region rich in gas.

Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, fears a "new escalation" between Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO.

A statement issued by the German Foreign Ministry stated that the escalation "can only harm everyone, especially those directly involved in the place."

During a meeting held just before this noon, German Foreign Minister and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed "the necessity of de-escalation."

"The initiative of Germany, which holds the presidency of the European Union, works positively in this direction," the Greek government said in a statement.

Later on, Maas met his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias before holding a meeting in the afternoon in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Earlier, the European Union Top Representative Josep Borrell, called on Ankara to "immediately" stop its operations to explore for gas in the Mediterranean. The Union is scheduled to address the dispute, which directly concerns Greece and Cyprus, the two members of the bloc, tomorrow and the day after in Berlin.

On August 10, Ankara, which it feared being excluded from sharing the region's vast natural gas reserves, deployed warships in a region over which Greece claims sovereignty, fueling tension with Athens and European anxiety.