ATHENS — Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

However, sources added, "we have noted the intention of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to work towards establishing de-escalation mechanisms within NATO."

It was also underlined that when it comes to the notion of de-escalation of tensions, this could only mean the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish ships from the Greek continental shelf, sources stressed.

The unilateral marking of a single document and a request for comments with a week's deadline, do not – in any way, constitute the start of a dialogue, sources concluded.