Turkey is withdrawing from disputed Mediterranean zone, Greece says

Athens says it is ready to negotiate ‘within the framework of international law’

The research vessel is anchored off the southeast Turkish port of Antalya (AP)

Turkey has reduced the number of navy vessels in an area of the eastern Mediterranean where it disputes Greek jurisdiction over oil and gas drilling rights, Greek authorities have said.

Tensions in the long-standing dispute flared last week between the two Nato allies when Turkey announced it planned to send a research vessel south of the Greek islands of Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kastellorizo.

The initiative was publicly criticised by the United States, France, and other European countries, and the Turkish research vessel, the Oruc Reis, has remained anchored off the southeast Turkish port of Antalya.

Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas said on Monday that Turkey was withdrawing navy vessels from the area, adding that Athens remained ready to enter negotiations with Turkey “within the framework of international law and good neighbourly relations”.

Turkey accuses Greece of trying to exclude it from fair mineral exploitation in the eastern Mediterranean, arguing that Greek islands should not be included calculating exclusive economic zones.

Athens counters that Turkey's position is a violation of international law.

Turkey says the research mission plan will remain in effect through 2 August.

AP