Turkey has extended the controversial use of its gas field exploration ship „Oruc Reis“ in the eastern Mediterranean by ten days. The Turkish naval authority announced today that it will carry out seismic surveys southeast of the Greek island of Rhodes by November 14.
Turkey had sent the „Oruc Reis“ back to the eastern Mediterranean in mid-October to look for natural gas there, and thus rekindled a dispute with neighboring Greece. The mission has been extended several times and should actually expire on November 4th.
Greece accuses Turkey of illegally exploring deposits off Greek islands. The government in Ankara rejects this and takes the position that the waters belong to the Turkish continental shelf.
