Greece, Turkey to Resume Exploratory Talks Over Mediterranean
Greece and Turkey will resume exploratory
talks over contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean, Greek
government spokesperson Stelios Petsas said Thursday.
After a four-year hiatus, Turkey and Greece
have agreed to resume the talks following weeks of tensions that culminated in
a collision between warships.
Greece had said this week that the talks,
which broke off in 2016 after 60 rounds that made little progress over 14
years, would resume in the near future in Istanbul.
Turkey gave no timing for a resumption of the
talks but a senior official said they could begin by the end of the month,
Reuters reported.
“There are positive developments,” the official
said.
Tensions flared last month after Ankara sent
its Oruc Reis seismic survey ship into disputed waters, escorted by gunboats,
to map out sea territory for possible oil and gas drilling.
A Turkish and a Greek warship collided during
the standoff.
