Turkey FM on Mediterranean tension with Greece

Tension remained high on Tuesday between Greece and Turkey, both of which have warships in the eastern Mediterranean after Turkey sent a research vessel to carry out seismic research for energy resources in an area Greece says is on its continental shelf.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country was determined to press ahead with its efforts to search for resources in the eastern Mediterranean.

He added that Turkey had agreed to halt its efforts in the region as a gesture following intervention by the European Union and Germany but that Greece did not respond positively.

Greece will be requesting an emergency meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council, the prime minister's office announced following a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.