Turkish seismic study vessel Oruc Reis is accompanied by Turkish Navy ships as it sets out in the Mediterranean Sea, off Antalya, Turkey, August 10, 2020. Picture taken August 10, 2020. Turkish Defence Ministry/Handout using REUTERS

By Lefteris Papadimas and also Tuvan Gumrukcu ATHENS/ANKARA, Aug 25 (Reuters)– Germany’s leading mediator claimed after speedy conferences in Turkey and also Greece on Tuesday both awaited dialog to soothe an aggravating conflict over power sources in the Mediterranean, also as the NATO allies traded brand-new barbs.

Turkey and also Greece emphatically differ over gas gets off Cyprus and also the degree of their continental racks. They have actually attracted the European Union and also neighboring nations right into the conflict, which previously this month flared right into a light crash in between Turkish and also Greek frigates.

On Tuesday, the international preachers of Greece and also Turkey both claimed they wished to resolve the concern via dialog complying with talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, however each cautioned that they would certainly remain to protect their legal rights in the area.

Tensions in between Turkey and also Greece rose after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis study vessel to contested eastern Mediterranean waters this month, an action Athens called unlawful.

After talks in Athens and also Ankara, Maas advised Greece and also Turkey to resort to dialog, though included that Germany and also the EU stood with fellow participant state Greece.

“In both meetings in Athens as well as in Ankara I kept hearing that the only way to reach an understanding was to start a dialog in which both differing standpoints were put on the table,” Maas informed a press conference in Ankara.

“No one wants to settle this conflict militarily, which would be absolute madness,” he claimed, talking together with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Turkey and also Greece at the same time held competing army drills in the very same movie theater of theMediterranean Maas compared the conflict to “playing with fire” and also cautioned that “every little spark can lead to catastrophe.”

Greece on Monday released an advising, referred to as a Navtex, that it will certainly hold marine workouts in a location off the Greek island of Crete, after Turkey claimed on Sunday the Oruc Reis would certainly run in the very same location tillAug 27.

Greece’s consultatory after that motivated a competitor Navtex from Turkey that it would certainly likewise hold drills there on Tuesday.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan implicated Greece on Monday of “sowing chaos” in the Mediterranean and also cautioned Athens would certainly discover itself needing to encounter the Turkish navy by itself.

BATTLE OF WORDS

Despite articulating preparedness for dialog, Cavusoglu claimed this can just take place if Greece deserted its “maximalist demands,” including it was not reasonable to anticipate Turkey to drop its legal rights with risks of permissions.

“We are open to talks without pre-conditions. But, when one side starts imposing pre-conditions, then there are many things we will put forth too,” he claimed.

“If you make statements like ‘We will defend our rights. We carry out drills,’ if you take wrong steps, we don’t want to say we will make a mistake, but we will do what is necessary without hesitation.”

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias claimed Greece wished to speak with Turkey however would certainly refrain from doing so “under threats.” Athens stood all set to protect its legal rights, he claimed, including the conflict was a problem for the whole EU and also its protection.

Germany likewise stepped in last month, triggering Ankara to stop briefly procedures for talks withAthens After Greece and also Egypt concurred a maritime separation bargain, nonetheless, Turkey returned to procedures.

EU international preachers are arranged to fulfill in Berlin onAug 27-28 to go over the concern. An elderly EU authorities informed press reporters that the bloc’s EU diplomacy principal, Josep Borrell, would certainly place “all options” on the table, consisting of financial permissions on Turkey and also officially finishing Turkey’s standing as an EU prospect.

Asked regarding the bloc’s connections with Turkey, Maas claimed these went to a “crossroads” however Germany wished to add to a favorable dialog. He claimed the program of EU-Turkey connections will certainly “largely be decided” by the end of the year. (Additional coverage by Angeliki Koutantou in Athens, Orhan Coskun and also Jonathan Spicer in Ankara, Madeline Chambers and also Joseph Nasr in Berlin, Robin Emmott in Brussels; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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