Turkey accuses Greece of harassing research vessel in eastern Mediterranean

The two countries are set for renewed talks over Aegean maritime zones in early March.

Al-Monitor Staff
Al-Monitor Staff
AT SEA - MARCH 30: The sun rises over the Turkish coastline as Portuguese Frontex crew monitor the Aegean sea between Turkey and Greece for boats carrying refugees on March 30, 2016 near Mithymna, Greece. Frontex is a European Union border agency and was established in 2004 to manage the cooperation between national border guards in securing their external borders. New arrivals of refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos have reduced dramatically to almost non over the last week, since a deal between
The sun rises over the Turkish coastline as Portuguese Frontex crew monitor the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece on March 30, 2016 near Mithymna, Greece. — Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Turkey accused Greece’s air force of harassing a Turkish research ship in the Aegean Sea this week ahead of renewed talks over the two countries’ ongoing maritime dispute.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry said Greek F-16s approached the TCG Cesme near the island of Lemnos on Tuesday. One of the fighters descended to 1,000 meters and dropped flares two nautical miles from the research vessel, Ankara alleged.

Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey responded “within the rules” to the alleged provocation, without offering specifics. “Such harassment is not appropriate and does not suit good neighborly relations,” Akar told reporters at the parliament.

A spokesperson for Greece’s Defense Ministry denied the accusation, saying no harassment occurred. Greek fighter jets conducted an exercise over the Aegean on Tuesday, which the Defense Ministry said took place far from the Turkish vessel’s route.

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