ATHENS – Trying to rebuff Turkey’s “unfounded claims” to the seas around Greek islands, the New Democracy government sent a letter of complaint to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has shown no interest in the brewing troubles.

Diplomatic sources not named told the state-run Athens-Macedonia News Agency (AMNA) about the move that’s likely to produce no reaction given that Cyprus has sent the UN chief a number of letters about Turkey drilling for oil in its waters but was ignored.

The document comes in the wake of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stepping up belligerence against Greece and vowing not to talk to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis anymore, saying the Greek leader lobbied the US Congress in an address not to approve selling F-16’s to Turkey.

Erdogan, who said he would at some point send an energy research vessel and warships off Greek islands to hunt for oil and gas in waters that Turkey claims, issued a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) reserving seas between the Greek islands of Chios, Lesvos and Limnos for seismic surveys.

That came after two Turkish fighter jets violated Greek airspace over the islets of  Oinousses and Panagia, said Kathimerini, after a Turkish fighter earlier flew over the Greek port of Alexandroupoli as Turkey has stepped up overflights.

It wasn’t said what Greece hopes to accomplish by sending a letter to Guterres, who has shown no stomach about getting involved in the dispute between the countries that’s brought fears of a conflict, accidental or otherwise.