Turkey declares Greece-Chevron activities off Crete illegal

The Turkish government said that it was opposed to Greece's unilateral?activities? in the energy fields south-west of Crete, with a consortium headed by?U.S. Chevron, a major oil company, as a violation of international law and good neighbourly relations.

Athens responded that its policies adhere to international law.

Chevron and its consortium signed exclusive lease agreements Monday to search for natural gas offshore southern Greece. This expands U.S. presence throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

At a recent press conference, the Turkish Defence Ministry stated: "We are against this illegal activity which is attempted in violation the 2019 Memorandum on Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction Between Libya and Our Country."

The report said that while the activity did not directly affect Turkey's continental shelves, it also violated Libyan maritime jurisdiction, which was declared by?the United Nations? in May of last year.

The ministry stated that it continues to support the Libyan authorities in their efforts to stop unilateral and illegal activities by Greece.

An agreement signed by Turkey and Libya in 2019 outlines maritime boundaries along the Mediterranean Sea. Greece rejected it because the agreement ignored the Greek island Crete, which lies between the coasts Turkey and Libya. The Chevron agreement doubles the amount available of Greek marine acreage for exploration. It is also the second deal in recent months that involves a U.S. Energy Major, as the European Union tries to phase out Russian supplies and the U.S. aims to replace them.

When asked about the Turkish objections, Pavlos Marinakis, a Greek government spokesperson, said at a press conference that Athens had an "active policy". He added that Athens "exercises?its?rights steadfastly and in accordance with International Law."

Chevron did not immediately comment on the situation.

Since decades, neighbours and NATO members Turkey & Greece have been at odds on a number of issues, including maritime boundaries and rights along the Aegean Sea, a 'area that is widely thought to contain energy resources and has important implications for airspace and military activities.

The 2023 declaration of friendly relations has prompted a thaw in relations between the two sides. Leaders have expressed a desire for a resolution to remaining issues. (Reporting Tuvan Gumrukcu, Additional reporting by Angeliki Kooutantou in Athens, Editing by Daren Buttle)

(source: Reuters)