Maas appears very concerned over escalation of tension in eastern Mediterranean

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Thursday appeared very concerned over the escalation of tension and the provocations in eastern Mediterranean and warned that if a diplomatic solution is not reached until the EU Summit on EU-Turkish relations, it would be extremely problematic for the EU dialogue with Turkey and called on both sides to contribute to the de-escalation.

"We continue to be very concerned over the developments in the eastern Mediterranean, the escalation and the provocations that exist there. In my talks in Athens and in Ankara I asked for de-escalation. We will see how things will develop at the end of the month, where the vessels will go and we will also request to create the conditions in order for Turkey and Greece to resolve their problems directly and to contribute in order to avoid any military action," Maas said upon his arrival at the informal EU Foreign Ministers meeting that is held on Thursday and Friday in Berlin.

Asked if the German side is optimistic over the achievement of a common line among the EU state members, Mass underlined that a diplomatic solution is necessary in the Greek-Turkey issue noting that he asked the same during his visits to Athens and Ankara. He underlined that nobody wants to resolve this argument in the eastern Mediterranean with warships adding that direct deliberations should be held between Athens and Ankara. "The conditions remain very difficult and the prerequisite for these deliberations is the end of the existing action in the eastern Mediterranean. Each side can contribute and create room for diplomatic discussions because the two sides will not sit at the negotiations table if there are warships in the eastern Mediterranean," he said.

Asked if the EU can impose sanctions on Belarus as long as there are no sanctions on Turkey, Maas underlined that we cannot compare different conflicts because then the EU will not be able to take action.

On the Turkish drillings and if they are according to the international law, he said that there are many legal issues that must be clarified adding that possibly - and this would be the easiest way - the competent courts would resolve it and this is another issue to be discussed in these deliberation between Greece and Turkey.