Egypt denies it has started talks with Turkey on the sidelines of Greece
Egyptian diplomatic sources have denied rumours that Cairo has discussed the eastern Mediterranean issue with Turkey and reiterated its commitment to making Cyprus and Greece part of any negotiations with Turkey.
Egyptian officials described as "false" Turkish claims that an agreement is close to being reached and deny having any intention of negotiating with Turkey on the issue.
"The Egyptian side remains firm in its position of rejecting the maritime agreement signed between the Libyan Government of National Accord and Ankara," the foreign ministry said. "Egypt's respect for the maritime borders of Mediterranean countries is not new and Turkey's attempts to claim that the two countries have negotiated are incorrect," they added.
The Turkish foreign minister recently claimed that the two countries would finalise a deal in line with the agreement concluded with the Libyan Government of National Accord, a faction that Turkey has been supporting during Libya's civil war.
The statements were in line with those made last year by Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, who expressed Ankara's desire to re-establish relations with Cairo.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently held a telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in which they discussed cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean. According to Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi, they discussed closer bilateral relations, especially in the field of energy.
Al-Sisi took the opportunity to praise the strength of Greek-Egyptian relations, citing Egypt's pride in the relationship and the positive progress between the two countries on issues of common interest.
Last October, Al-Sisi ratified an agreement with Greece on the designation of an exclusive economic zone between the two countries. In 2019, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy held the East Med Gas Forum, without Turkey's presence. A further sign of Turkey's inability to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries.
Since talks between the two countries resumed this year, Turkey has accused Greece of having an "intransigent attitude". For its part, Greece has taken a dim view of the arrival of the Turkish research vessel TCG Cesme in international waters in the Aegean Sea. Athens has referred to this as "a measure that does not facilitate the improvement of relations between the two countries".
Turkish sources told Anadolu Agency that the research vessel Cesme only carries out scientific and technical research as part of its annual programme of activities. They stressed that the studies do not cover the seabed, thus complying with the 1976 Bern Agreement.
"Greece's claims that we have carried out actions that increase tension do not reflect the truth," said the sources, who also referred to scientific missions of Greek vessels in international waters such as those of the AEGAEO between the island of Crete and the Peloponnese peninsula.
Ankara also accused Athens of having a "clear intention to publicly mislead the international community".
Despite Turkey's reproaches, tension in the Aegean Sea increased precisely after Ankara sent the vessel Oruç Reis to the waters south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo to conduct a seismic survey in August last year. That event led to the worst diplomatic crisis between the two countries since 1996.
NATO and EU mediation have helped bring the two countries to the negotiating table, but the talks are not likely to be an easy road. In late February Turkey announced that its naval forces would conduct large-scale military exercises in the Aegean between 25 February and 7 March.
However, the next meeting is still scheduled to take place in the Greek capital, although no date has been set. Meanwhile, Greece approves a 57 per cent increase in the defence ministry's budget. The Turkish capital is increasingly concerned about the growing deterioration of its economy and the consequences of poor relations with the EU and neighbouring countries.