Nikos Meletis: Turkey is challenging our sovereign rights in the Aegean: Exercise of navigation control
File Photo: By carrying out this exercise in the international waters of the Aegean Sea in areas where the exercise of sovereign powers belongs to Greece, Turkey is attempting, as it has been doing for several years, to undermine Greek sovereign rights and powers in almost the entire Aegean Sea. GEN.In a symbolic move with messages to expand navigation control in the international waters of the Aegean, even between the Greek islands but also within the Athens FIR and the Greek area of responsibility for Search and Rescue, Ankara announced the NGAGS exercise under the name BEYAZ FIRTINA 2018.
This exercise (Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping) will be held from May 14-18 in the "Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the area is defined as Turkish territorial waters and international waters."
As reported by the Turkish NAVTEX (0569/18), the prescribed NGAGS procedures for interaction with commercial shipping will be followed during the exercise. Maritime Authorities and commercial and fishing vessels larger than 300grt are invited to cooperate with the Turkish Navy Maritime Center (TNSC) based in Izmir on the basis of the principle of "no cost, no delay".
Commercial and fishing vessels are also invited to report directly to the TNSC when approaching or sailing in the NGAGS areas by submitting a specific form:
And the Turkish NAVTEX ends with contact numbers and emails:
E-MAIL: turkishnavyshippingcenter@dzkk.tsk.tr
TEL: +90 232 366 66 66/67 – FAX: +90 232 365 9575
By carrying out this exercise in the international waters of the Aegean Sea in areas where the exercise of sovereign powers belongs to Greece, Turkey is attempting, as it has been doing for several years, to undermine Greek sovereign rights and powers in almost the entire Aegean Sea.
The picture this exercise gives is that even Greek commercial or fishing vessels in the middle of the Aegean, if requested, should recognize, even for the needs of the exercise, the responsibility of the center of Izmir for safe navigation even in the center of the Aegean.
Just yesterday, Turkish Chief of Defence Staff Hulusi Akar, after the completion of the "Efes 2018" exercise in Izmir, stated that the Turkish Armed Forces "will continue to protect and maintain the rights and interests of Turkey and the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, and will remain as a guarantor of peace and security in line with international guarantees and Alliance treaties on the island of Cyprus".
The term Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) refers to exercises and operations to provide advice for the safe passage of merchant ships during periods of peace, tension, crisis and war.
The personnel of these NCAGS missions act as the liaison between military commanders and civil authorities. During wartime, they are even responsible for creating convoys for the safe passage of merchant ships.