The tension in the Greek-Turkish language has noticeably decreased, mainly because inflammatory positions against Greece are absent from the rhetoric of Turkish officials. Only the Turkish opposition newspaper Sozcu recalled these days the Kemalist positions on the Greek occupation of 20 islands and some channels such as Haber Turk said to recall the demilitarization of the Greek islands.
Of course, as we write all these days in Pentapostagma, the questioning of Greek sovereign rights and sovereignty did not stop for a minute.
This is why the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos emphasized today, among other things, in the context of his meeting with his Cypriot counterpart: "We are always in favor of good neighborly relations and we welcome the apparent de-escalation of tension in the region. I certainly hope, although I have some reservations, that this will continue and be maintained in the future."
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, in an interview with Proto Thema, trying to cite Athens' perspective regarding the good climate that exists after the earthquakes and at this particular time, stated: "Greece had an absolute obligation to pass through this door that Turkey opened. Now whether this will have a happy ending or is just a passing phenomenon, only time can tell. However, it would be unforgivable for the Greek side not to attempt to take advantage of this change."
Despite this, the Pentagon maintains reservations and monitors, among other things, the whereabouts of Turkey's research vessels and floating drilling rigs, as it is certain that Ankara's revisionist attitude has not changed and its "thirst" for the hydrocarbons of the Eastern Mediterranean has not dried up. .
Because the tools of any new attempt by Turkey to get its hands on the natural gas that exists in the Cypriot and potential Greek EEZ, will be research and drilling rigs, it constantly monitors them.
Starting with the drilling rigs, most are in the Black Sea drilling that the Erdogan government advertises as having yielded large and important fields. Fatih until April 10 and Kanuni until April 7 are drilling in the Black Sea, while Yavuz is tied up in the port of Filios. Also tied up in port is Turkey's fourth floating drilling rig Abdulhamid Khan. The only difference with the previous ones is that this is in the Mediterranean and specifically in the port of Seleucia.
Turkey's research findings are at the following points. Barbaros is conducting surveys in the Black Sea off Kerasunda until August 21, 2023. Oruts Reis will continue to conduct surveys in Antalya Bay until May 31 as the relevant NAVTEX was renewed today.
The research Bilim will carry out investigations until March 26 on axes that in some places violate the Cypriot EEZ in its north, but due to the occupation, Nicosia can do nothing but point out the illegality.
Tubitak Marmara will conduct scientific research along the Turkish Aegean coast until March 30. At the moment it is opposite Kos.
The Piri Reis is tied up in the port of Izmir, while the Cesme, according to the available information, is tied up in a port of Marmara, while the Derinsu is conducting searches in the same sea area until April 16.
