Cyprus, Greece issue counter-Navtex voiding Turkish advisory

Greece and Cyprus have issued a Navtex in response to the advisory published by Turkey’s navy on Tuesday for seismic surveys in an area of sea between Cyprus and Crete.

The Navtex, issued by the Iraklio station in Crete, said that an “unauthorized station” has broadcast a navtex message in the Greek Navtex service area “referring to unauthorized and illegal activity in an area that overlaps the Greek continental shelf.”

“All marines are requested to disregard [the Turkish] Navtex,” it said.

Below is the full Navtex issued by Greece.

IRAKLEIO STATION NAVWARN 405/20
SOUTHEAST CRETAN SEA
1. UNAUTHORIZED STATION HAS BROADCAST NAVTEX
MESSAGE NUMBER FA10-977/20 IN HELLENIC NAVTEX
SERVICE AREA, REFERRING TO UNAUTHORIZED AND
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN AN AREA THAT OVERLAPS THE
GREEK CONTINENTAL SHELF.
IRAKLEIO NAVTEX STATION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BROADCAST NAVTEX MESSAGES IN THE AREA.
2. ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO DISREGARD NAVTEX
MESSAGE NUMBER FA10-977/20.
3. CANCEL THIS MESSAGE 022059 UTC AUG 20.

The Navtex issued by the Republic of Cyprus late on Tuesday night said Turkey’s advisory for seismic survey by Turkey’s Oruc Reis seismic exploration ship and supporting vessels “is referring to an unauthorized and illegal operation in the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus.”

The navtex goes on to say that “this action constitutes a violation of the international law and maritime safety procedures and it is also a criminal offence under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus.”

The Republic of Cyprus “demands from the ship Oruc Reis to immediately cease its illegal actions,” the navtex added.

The navtex issued by the Republic of Cyprus in full:

LIST OF NAVTEX MESSAGES, LAST UPDATE ON 21 11:00 UTC JULY 2020
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ZCZC MA 46
211000 UTC JUL 2020
JRCC LARNACA/CYPRUS RADIO/5BA
NAV WARN 0266/20
ALL BE ADVISED THAT THE NW 0977/20, FA-10, FOR SEISMIC SURVEY BY R/V ''ORUC REIS'' AND SUPPORTING VESSELS ''ATAMAN" AND ''CENGIZ HAN'' IS REFERRING TO AN UNAUTHORIZED AND ILLEGAL OPERATION IN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND THE CONTINENTAL SHELF OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.
THIS ACTION CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MARITIME SAFETY PROCEDURES AND IT IS ALSO A CRIMINAL OFFENCE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.
ROC DEMANDS FROM THE SHIP ''ORUC REIS'' TO IMMIDIATELY CEASE ITS ILLEGAL ACTIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO CONTACT JRCC LARNACA/CYPRUS RADIO/5BA.
CANCEL THIS MESSAGE ON 02 2100 UTC AUG 2020.
JRCC LARNACA/CYPRUS RADIO/5BA
NNNN

EU Commission: Turkish Navtex ‘sends the wrong message’

The European Commission has criticized a Navtex issued by Turkey’s navy on Tuesday, saying it conveys “the wrong message.

“Turkey’s announcement of a new Navtex for seismic research in the eastern Mediterranean is not useful and sends the wrong message,” Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali was quoted by Cypriot media as saying Wednesday, while urging Turkey to take any disputes it may have to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Both Greece and Cyprus are pressing other EU member states to prepare “crippling sanctions” against Turkey if it proceeds with its oil and gas exploration plans.

Ankara: Navtex covers areas within Turkey’s continental shelf

A Navtex issued by Turkey’s navy on Tuesday for seismic surveys covers areas within Turkey’s continental shelf, the country’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, while accusing Greece of adopting “maximalist” claims.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Turkish ministry said that the Oruc Reis seismic exploration ship will conduct seismic research operations “entirely within” the Turkish continental shelf as declared to the United Nations and inside the blocks licensed to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) for exploration in 2012.

It said that Turkey’s ship Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa had in the past carried out seismic research inside the same area.

“Greece raised objections to the current survey activity and claimed that the survey area is within its own continental shelf. Greece bases this claim on the presence of remote islands far from its own mainland, most notably Kastellorizo,” the ministry said.

“This maximalist continental shelf claim of Greece is contrary to international law, jurisprudence and court decisions,” it said.

“The argument that an island of 10 square kilometers, located only 2 kilometers away from Anatolia and 580 kilometers from the Greek mainland should generate a continental shelf area of 40,000 square kilometers is neither rational nor in line with international law. We therefore reject these unjustified assertions of Greece,” it said.

While reiterating calls to Greece for dialogue, the ministry said, “Turkey will also continue to defend its legitimate rights and interests stemming from international law.”