Greece exploiting naval alerts, says Turkish defense minister

Greece is exploiting the system of Navtex naval alerts in defiance of good neighborly relations, Turkey’s defense minister said Monday.

“This issue is extremely exploited by our neighbor. Dozens of Navtexes were announced in three months. Only two of them were used and the others not. This is harassment. This is extremely contrary to good neighborly relations,” Hulusi Akar told top commanders in a video conference.

A Navtex, or Navigational Telex, is a maritime communications system that allows ships to inform other vessels about their presence in an area as well as other information.

On developments in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, Akar reiterated that Turkey is in favor of finding political solutions to problems as well as good neighborly relations and dialogue.

Underlining that being in favor of good neighborly relations should not be misunderstood, Akar added that it does not mean making compromises. Turkey will continue to defend its rights in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey, which has the longest continental coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, has rejected the maritime boundary claims of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, stressing that these excessive claims violate the sovereign rights of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Ankara has sent several drill ships in recent months to explore for energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting its rights in the region as well as those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Turkish leaders have repeatedly stressed that Ankara is in favor of resolving all outstanding problems in the region through international law, good neighborly relations, dialogue and negotiations.