Turkey: Natural Gas

(asked on 24th September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of (1) Turkey, and (2) Greece, (a) to de-escalate the dispute over maritime rights in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and (b) to enable exploratory talks to resume between the two on the demarcation of Maritime Zones.


Answered by
Baroness Sugg Portrait
Baroness Sugg
This question was answered on 1st October 2020

The UK is in regular contact with Turkish and Greek partners with regard to the ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and we welcome the announcement that Greece and Turkey will resume exploratory talks. The Prime Minister discussed this with Turkish President Erdogan on 28 September. The Defence Secretary discussed this with the Turkish Defence Minister on 28 August. The Foreign Secretary also raised the matter with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 8 July. The Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas has spoken to both her Turkish and Greek counterparts in recent weeks. Officials continue to raise the issue with the parties concerned. We believe it is critical for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and for the integrity of the rules-based international system that tensions be reduced and disputes resolved through dialogue and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

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