ATHENS, Greece (AP) Despite a denial from Greece, the chief of NATO said Friday that Greece and Turkey have started technical discussions aimed at reducing the risk of armed conflict or accidents amid military tensions between the allies over offshore energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.
No agreement has been reached from the military-level talks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
Greeces foreign minister, meanwhile, headed to New York to discuss the regional dispute centered around maritime boundaries and drilling rights.
Neighbors and NATO allies Greece and Turkey have been locked for weeks in a tense standoff in the eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is prospecting the seabed for energy reserves in an area Greece claims as its own continental shelf.
Ankara says it has every right to prospect there and accuses Greece of trying to grab an unfair share of maritime resources.
Stoltenberg announced Thursday that the two sides had agreed to start technical talks to reduce the risks of military incidents and accidents.
But Athens quickly denied any such agreement, saying Turkey must first withdraw its ships from the area where it is carrying out gas and oil prospecting. Ankara said it backed Stoltenbergs initiative for military and technical talks and called on Greece to do the same.
On Friday, the NATO chief said Greek, Turkish and allied military officers had begun talks aimed at ensuring that some of the standoffs between the two countries armed forces in the Mediterranean dont break out into open conflict. NATO officials said the first talks were held Thursday.
As long as we have so many ships in the eastern Mediterranean, we believe that there is a need to have technical talks on how to develop enhanced mechanisms for deconfliction, Stoltenberg told reporters. No agreement has been reached yet, but the talks have started.
While its relatively rare for NATO to have to step in to reduce tensions between member nations, the military alliance has helped set up similar systems in the past, including communications hotlines for use in case of emergencies.
Stoltenberg underlined that the military-level talks are only aimed at avoiding any incident between Greece and Turkey and are very distinct from the diplomatic efforts to find a long-term solution to the standoff.
These are technical talks rather than negotiations on the underlying dispute between Greece and Turkey and as such they are meant to complement, not replace, the efforts led by Germany for political mediation towards deescalation, he said.
Since Turkey dispatched a vessel accompanied by warships to do exploratory research, Greeces armed forces have been placed on alert. Both countries sent warships to the area and carried out live-fire exercises between the islands of Crete and Cyprus and Turkeys southern coast.
Simulated dogfights between Greek and Turkish fighter pilots have multiplied over the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. A Turkish and a Greek frigate collided last month, reportedly causing minor damage to the Turkish frigate but no injuries.
The crisis is the most serious in the two countries relations in decades. The neighbors have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s, including once over maritime resources in the Aegean Sea.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will focus on issues of international and regional interest, with an emphasis on current developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue, as well as the role of the U.N.. the Greek Foreign Ministry said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Dendias would be delivering a letter from him to Guterres detailing what he said was Turkeys illegal activity in the region.
Speaking with Chinas top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, in Athens, Mitsotakis said Greece faces aggression from Turkey and actions that dispute every rule of the U.N. charter, with a rhetoric that distorts history and changes geography, undermining legality and with actions that are endangering security in the entire Mediterranean.
Mitsotakis said Greece supports good neighborly relations, and noted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is open to dialogue.
And to this I reply with six clear words: The provocations stop, the dialogue starts, Mitsotakis said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meanwhile accused Greece of lying about the NATO initiative, saying Stoltenberg had consulted with Ankara and Athens and both agreed to the technical talks before making his announcement.
Greece has refuted the NATO secretary general, Cavusoglu told reporters. But it isnt the NATO secretary general who is lying, its Greece itself who is lying. ... Greece has once again shown that it does not favor a dialogue.
Cavusoglu and Stoltenberg later held a telephone conversation to discuss the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, but didnt provide details.
A Greek Foreign Ministry official retorted that Cavusoglu anxious to shift the focus of the debate from Turkeys illegal behavior, has baptized as talks a NATO proposal on a technical level for a reduction of the tension Turkey itself is causing in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the record on the issue.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for Turkeys ruling party, Omer Celik, said the European Union could no longer count on Turkeys cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe if it goes ahead with plans to sanction Turkey over its exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean.
I dont expect things to come to the point of sanctions. The EU should not expect cooperation on refugees after that time, Celik said in an interview with Turkeys NTV news channel. They should not think that they can sanction (Turkey) in the eastern Mediterranean and continue to cooperate in other areas.
Earlier this year, tens of thousands of migrants gathered at Turkeys border with Greece, demanding to be allowed to cross, after the Turkish president declared the borders with Europe open to migrants wanting to head into EU nations.
___
Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
Read the original:
NATO: Turkey, Greece start talks to reduce risk of conflict - The Associated Press
- Dont come here: NATO sends message to Russia with Spring Storm training exercise - WTOP - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Former NATO commander warned White House Afghanistan pullout would go very bad very fast before botched operation that left 13 US forces dead - New... - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO and Armenia strengthen their defence education cooperation - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- The 48th Annual Conference for the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives focused on Military Planning and ... - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO Chiefs of Defence discuss the strengthening of NATO's defence plans - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO airborne forces train together in exercise Swift Response 2024 - b-roll - 17 May 2024 - DVIDS - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Allied Chiefs of Defence meet with NATO Secretary General - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO and the Republic of Korea discuss cooperation at the military staff talks - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Eucom Commander: NATO Is Transforming to Defend Every Inch of the Alliance - Department of Defense - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Dispatch from Estonia and Romania: How NATO burden sharing works on the ground - Atlantic Council - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Allied Strength Across Waters: Wet Gap Crossing with NATO Forces - United States Army - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO Deputy Secretary General: we must be big on cyber defence ambitions - NATO HQ - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO and Its South: Redefining the Terms - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Top NATO commander: Russia's offensive won't succeed - POLITICO Europe - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO and Economic Security: A Political Oxymoron or Inevitability? - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO must 'win up front but be ready to win long' in modern warfare, says General Christopher Cavoli - Atlantic Council - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- The Washington NATO Summit: Ukraine and transatlantic security in the age of marching authoritarians - Atlantic Council - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Friday Briefing: NATO Considers Sending Trainers to Ukraine - The New York Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Zelensky and Iohannis discuss support for Ukraine, NATO summit priorities, and security in Black Sea - Ukrinform - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- S-300: The Air Defense System Built to Attack NATO Fighters and Bombers - The National Interest Online - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says NATO will deploy troops to Ukraine - WSWS - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- US says NATO military trainers will eventually be sent to Ukraine: report - Fox News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- The Minister of Defense Zukan Helez is visiting the NATO headquarters - Sarajevo Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- NATO chief 'shocked and appalled' by shooting of Slovak PM Fico - Yahoo! Voices - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Trump says he'd 'encourage' Russia to attack NATO allies who don't pay their bills - NPR - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump suggests he'd disregard NATO treaty, urge Russian attacks on allies - The Washington Post - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- 'You got to pay!': Trump threatens to 'encourage' Russia to attack NATO allies behind on payments - FRANCE 24 English - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says Russia can do what it wants to Nato allies who pay too little - Financial Times - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- White House calls Trump comments on NATO appalling and unhinged - The Hill - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says Russia could do 'whatever the hell they want' to NATO countries that don't pay their share - Yahoo News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump Says He Gave NATO Allies Warning: Pay In or He'd Urge Russian Aggression - The New York Times - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- White House says Trump comments on refusing to back NATO allies 'unhinged' - The Times of Israel - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- NATO allies warn Hungary not to hold up Sweden's membership as US patience wears thin - The Associated Press - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump comments on Russia, NATO 'appalling and unhinged' -White House - Yahoo News Canada - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- NATO Allies Pressure Hungary Over Blocking Sweden's Accession - Voice of America - VOA News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says he warned NATO: Pay in or he'd tell Russia 'to do whatever the hell they want' - The Spokesman Review - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Vladimir Putin on invading Poland, the war in Ukraine, American 'spies' and Russia joining NATO - Sky News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says he would support Russia in attacking NATO allies who dont pay' up - Hindustan Times - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says he will encourage Russia to attack NATO states that pay too little - Ukrainska Pravda - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Orbn's party boycotts a session of Hungary's parliament to further stall Sweden's bid to join NATO - The Associated Press - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- US, NATO Reaffirm Need to Support Ukraine - Voice of America - VOA News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Shocking moment Donald Trump tells cheering crowd he would encourage Russia to ATTACK fellow NATO members for - Daily Mail - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump says he warned NATO ally: Spend more on defense or Russia can 'do whatever the hell they want' - WV News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump threatens to 'encourage' attack of NATO members behind on payments - Port Lavaca Wave - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- NATO, Gaza, and the future of US-Turkish relations - European Council on Foreign Relations - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict demands American diplomacy without NATO overreach - The Hill - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Putin tells Tucker Carlson Bill Clinton agreed that Russia could join NATO - WION - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump is slammed for encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies who 'don't pay their dues', with White House bra - Daily Mail - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Trump comments on Russia and NATO appalling and unhinged, says White House spokesperson - Firstpost - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Now we are not safe: Swedens Kurds fear Nato deal has sold them out - The Guardian - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Germany urges Orbn to ratify Sweden's NATO bid as 'a matter of loyalty' - POLITICO Europe - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Ukraine's Military to Receive Double Boost From NATO Allies - Newsweek - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg calls on Europe to ramp up arms production - The Hindu - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Nato chief urges Europe to ramp up arms production to avoid 'decades' of conflict with Russia - The Telegraph - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Russia likely upping jamming on NATO countries to test them: general - Business Insider - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Can NATO and the EU Survive and Thrive? - Gallup - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- NATO chief in DC trying to get blood from a stone - Responsible Statecraft - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- For Europe and NATO, a Russian Invasion Is No Longer Unthinkable - The New York Times - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Sen. Menendez Questions Witnesses During SFRC Subcommittee Hearing About the Possible Process for Ukraine to ... - Senator Menendez - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- NATO should be ambitious with its new Southern Flank Strategy - Atlantic Council - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Hungary parliament to meet on Monday at opposition request with Sweden's NATO bid on agenda - Reuters - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Pressure Grows on Hungary to Approve Swedens NATO Bid - Voice of America - VOA News - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Opinion | As war risks mount, Europe is sluggish to response - The Washington Post - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Opinion | How the E.U. and NATO should respond to Hungarys authoritarian Orban - The Washington Post - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- NATO chief warns 'Taiwan could be tomorrow' at Trump bastion - Nikkei Asia - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- ARTHUR CYR: NATO The Enduring Alliance | Opinion | henryherald.com - Henry Herald - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- NATO chief talks up alliance role in advancing US interests at think tank favored by Trump - Stars and Stripes - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Diplomacy Watch: NATO membership still on the table? - Responsible Statecraft - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- When will Sweden join NATO? | Opinion - Deseret News - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Trump hates NATO: Would he leave Canada out in the cold? - GZERO Media - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- China will learn that using force works if Russia prevails: NATO chief - Business Insider - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- NATO newcomer Finland's presidential election is headed for a runoff - NPR - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Letter | The US and NATO let 'never again' happen again in Ukraine - The Daily Progress - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Why Turkey Waited to Approve Sweden's NATO Membership - Foreign Policy - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Coalition of Three: BiH is grateful for all NATO Support - Sarajevo Times - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Former NATO head: Russia, Ukraine will have moment for potential negotiation after 2024 election - The Hill - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Code Red: How Russia Conquers the Baltics - Center for European Policy Analysis - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Orban Escalates Standoff Over Sweden's Accession to NATO - Yahoo News - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Trump Unleashes His Doubts On NATO: 'We Don't Get So Much Out Of It' - Yahoo News - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Putin to visit NATO member Turkey on 12 February - EURACTIV - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]