Greek envoy called to Turkish foreign ministry; speculation rife over reason

Media reports out of Ankara on Tuesday morning maintain that Turkey’s foreign ministry has called on the Greek ambassador in the country for a meeting.

Speculation over the intent of the ambassador’s requested presence swirled in the aftermath, with initial reports claiming that Ankara aims to express its dissatisfaction over the shadowing of a Turkish-flagged exploration vessel by a Greek navy frigate in the eastern Mediterranean last week.

Turkey continues to maintain that it has the right to conduct exploration for hydrocarbons in Cyprus exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while at the same time disputing the Republic of Cyprus’ international rights in the same sea region.

Another scenario on Tuesday points to potential saber-rattling by Ankara in the wake of outgoing Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias’ statement of extending Greece’s territorial waters from six to 12 nautical miles – but only in the Ionian Sea.

Finally, another press report from Turkey, in fact, had Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday as reminding of a jingoistic 1990s-era Turkish grand assembly vote threatening military action in case Athens increases the country’s territorial waters.