ATHENS — Diplomatic sources answered to a Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement in which it accused Greece of engaging areas in the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean.

The same sources said that the NOTAM A3521/20 refers to the planning of the exercise Triena in the same areas that are engaged in the past years in the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean.

"The areas are engaged separately and not all together for specific days and hours and not for the whole period 4 January-26 February 2021 as incorrectly and misleadingly said the Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement), clarified the diplomatic sources adding that "the specific areas that are engaged as well as the period during which the engagement is in effect are clear in the text of the latter NOTAM.

Greece, said the same sources "wishes a constructive dialogue with Turkey with main guideline the international law on the only existing issue between Greece and Turkey, the delimitation of the maritime zones in the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean.

Finally, it is noted again that Greece is seeking the de-escalation and calls on Turkey to abstain from unilateral actions and provocative statements and actions".