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Friday, November 14, 2008

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Greece, Turkey End Naval Standoff ATHENS — Greece and Turkey have ended a naval standoff that stemmed from Ankara's oil exploration in the disputed Aegean Sea.

Officials said Greece and Turkey ended their most tense confrontation in years in the Aegean. They said the standoff was concluded when Athens pressured Norway to order the departure of a ship that had entered Greek territorial waters.

"Cool heads prevailed, and there was little danger that this would end up in a shootout," an official said.

Officials said the Hellenic Navy sought to block a Turkish-sponsored oil prospecting survey in the Aegean on Nov. 14. The survey had been conducted by the Norwegian ship, Malene Ostervold, near the Greek island of Kastellorizo.

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"Under the international convention on the law of the sea, a large part of this area includes a continental shelf belonging to Greece," Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said.

Malene Ostervold was accompanied by a Turkish Naval frigate, Gediz. Within hours, the Hellenic Navy sent a missile boat, Polemistis, in what threatened to spark a confrontation with Ankara.

"This sort of research requires permission from Greek authorities," the Greek General Staff said.

Officials said Athens contacted Norway and demanded that Malene Ostervold leave the area. By Nov. 15, the Norwegian ship left Kastellorizo, but returned hours later.

Koumoutsakos said Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis called her Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, to demand that Malene Ostervold leave the disputed area. The Greek spokesman said the oil exploration operation was suspended and the Norwegian ship departed.

"The Norwegian research ship informed [the Hellenic Navy] with a relevant message that it is stopping research activities in the specific region," Koumoutsakos said.



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