Turkish warship warns Greek ship not to enter its waters

By ANDREW WILKS
Associated Press

ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish Defense Ministry says one of its warships issued a warning to a Greek research vessel to prevent it entering what Turkey considers its territorial waters. The showdown came a year after tensions in the eastern Mediterranean threatened to escalate into open conflict between the neighbors and NATO allies. The ministry said Wednesday the Nautical Geo survey ship was confronted by the Orucreis frigate as it attempted to enter Turkey’s continental shelf. The ministry says “the ship in question was radioed and warned not to enter the Turkish continental shelf. There was no physical intervention.” Greece and Turkey have been competing over the exploration of gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.