Germany urges dialogue between Turkey, Greece in eastern Mediterranean gas row

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Friday urged Turkey and Greece to open a direct dialogue with one another to de-escalate an energy row playing out in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, Merkel had already called Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mistotakis.

“The tensions are worrying. De-escalation is important as well as avoiding any further aggravation,” Seibert said.
NATO allies Turkey and Greece are at odds over exploration for hydrocarbon resources in the area. Greece and the EU claim Turkey’s drilling in the region is illegal. Turkey contests the area is within its exclusive economic zone.

On Monday, Ankara resumed its energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean in spite a deal between Greece and Egypt setting out rights to drill for oil and gas in the area.
Earlier, Erdogan said that he and Merkel had agreed that their advisors should hold talks between Aug. 23 and Aug. 28 to tone down the situation.

The Turkish president, however, told newsmen in Istanbul that he hoped Merkel could convince Greece’s Mitsotakis to the same end.
Merkel in July brokered talks between Ankara and Athens, convincing Turkey to temporarily pause drilling in the area.
However, Ankara had since resumed its energy exploration, following the deal between Greece and Egypt.