Navtex tension in the Eastern Mediterranean. Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a French-flagged ship intends to carry out unauthorized marine scientific research activities on Türkiye's continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the necessary permit process for the activity has not yet been completed.

It was stated that within the scope of the project, a French-flagged ship intends to carry out unauthorized cable laying activities within Türkiye's continental shelf. In this context, it was emphasized that the unauthorized navigation warning announcements issued by Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus were canceled by Türkiye.

The following statements were made in the written statement made on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“It appears that a French-flagged ship intends to carry out an illegal marine scientific research activity aimed at laying unauthorized cables within our continental shelf, the outer limits of which we notified to the United Nations on March 18, 2020. The unauthorized navigation warning announcements issued by Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration for this purpose have been canceled by our country.

The process regarding the consent required to be obtained from our country in accordance with the established provisions of international maritime law for the part of the activity that the ship in question plans to carry out within the borders of our continental shelf has not yet been completed.

"We are fully determined to protect our sovereign rights arising from international law, and we will continue to adopt an approach based on cooperation, dialogue and coordination in the region."