Cyprus issued early on Saturday a Navigational Telex (Navtex) invalidating a Navtex issued by the Antalya Navetx Station for military exercises off the north-western coast of Cyprus.
The Turkish navtex, issued Friday night, said Turkish ships will hold gunnery exercises from August 29 until September 11 covering the coordinates 35 36.55 N – 032 29.80 E, 35 11.82 N – 033 00.85 E, 35 26.50 N – 033 18.23 E and 35 50.73 N – 032 46.80 E.
Responding the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Larnaca and Cyprus Radio issued navtex 325/20 stating that the warning issued by the Antalya station “is illegal and constitutes a violation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, the international law and maritime safety procedures.”
“The only authorised station in the area of responsibility of the Republic of Cyprus is the JRCC Larnaca/Cyprus Radio” the Navtex reads.
The illegal Navtex issued by Turkey came a few hours after the informal EU Foreign Ministers Council held in Berlin decided to explore and apply restrictive measures on Turkey in case of further escalation, ahead of an EU Summit to be held in the end of September.