Turkey reiterated that dialogue is a priority for the fair sharing of natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that it was willing to sign a maritime border demarcation agreement with Egypt.
"Turkey supports dialogue at all platforms, especially when it comes to the fair sharing of natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean,” said the National Security Council (NSC) after a meeting headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey will not be lenient in protecting its rights and interests on land, air and sea, it vowed.
In a veiled message to Greece, it called on countries, “which are engaged in activities that contravene international law and agreements and are arming islands with non-military status, to act with commonsense in resolving disputes.
Turkey, which in all regional and global disputes stands by rights and justice, maintains the same approach in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran urged dialogue and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean to help establish security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Addressing the International Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, organized by Turkey's Communications Directorate, he stressed Ankara’s willingness to sign a maritime border demarcation agreement with Egypt in the Mediterranean.
Retired Brigadier General Ali Er warned the Turkish government against embroiling the country in several conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The solution, he said, lies in Turkey making concessions over the Muslim Brotherhood file, which have caused Ankara several problems, and in cooperating with Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Becoming involved in several conflicts may lead to a clash with other countries and the European Union and United States may force Turkey to make concessions, he added.
“The current regime in Turkey has led to the country’s isolation,” he noted. “Concessions have to be made in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus files and regional cooperation must be established with Egypt.”