Turkey, Greece May Resume Talks over Disputed Waters

Turkey and Greece are at odds over the limits of their continental shelves, energy rights, air space and the status of some islands. (AFP)
Turkey and Greece are at odds over the limits of their continental shelves, energy rights, air space and the status of some islands. (AFP)
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Turkey, Greece May Resume Talks over Disputed Waters

Turkey and Greece are at odds over the limits of their continental shelves, energy rights, air space and the status of some islands. (AFP)
Turkey and Greece are at odds over the limits of their continental shelves, energy rights, air space and the status of some islands. (AFP)

Turkey and Greece said on Monday they wanted to resume suspended exploratory talks over territorial claims in the Mediterranean Sea which brought them close to conflict last year.

Plans for talks last year foundered after disagreement over a Turkish seismic exploration vessel deployed to disputed waters, but the ship has since returned.

"So Greece has no excuse right now," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters, saying he was inviting Greece for talks by the end of January on all issues.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his government would attend once a date was set.

"We seek a fertile and productive relationship with Turkey," he told reporters in Lisbon, saying officials would have to be in contact formally. "It's probably about time we stopped chit-chatting and sat down and agreed on a date."

The two NATO military alliance members are at odds over the limits of their continental shelves, energy rights, air space and the status of some islands.

Their dispute threatened to spill into open conflict when Turkish and Greek warships collided in August as they shadowed Turkey's Oruc Reis vessel as it surveyed for oil and gas west of Cyprus.

Ankara and Athens have held 60 rounds of talks between 2002-2016, but resumption of negotiations has been complicated by what both sides are prepared to discuss.

Greece said on Monday it was willing to talk about demarcation of an Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf. It was not immediately clear whether Ankara would insist on other issues being included.

Cavusoglu said he was ready to meet Greek counterpart Niko Dendias in Tirana after Albania offered to mediate. "I hope Greece does not turn down this opportunity," he said.

Under pressure from some European Union (EU) members including Germany, Greece had indicated it could resume talks on Jan. 11, the Turkish minister added.



UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

British health authorities said on Monday they had detected a case of the H5N1 bird flu in a person in central England but added that the risk to the wider public remained "very low".

The person acquired the infection on a farm, where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency said in a statement, Reuters reported.

It said the individual was currently well and that authorities were tracing all known contacts of the person to offer antiviral treatment.

"We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur," UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser Susan Hopkins said.

Bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza are rare in Britain although it has occurred a small number of times.

British authorities have detected cases of bird flu in poultry farms in recent months and have taken steps to cull all infected animals.