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Greece-Egypt Maritime Deal Aimed at Stemming Turkish Designs in Eastern
Mediterranean

Anthee Carassava

   ATHENS - The Greek government is hailing a deal reached with Egypt on
   Thursday establishing an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas rights
   as a major success, claiming it counters growing Turkish influence in
   the region as Ankara prepares to issue new oil exploration licenses
   that have been sharply criticized by Greece, the European Union and
   Washington.

   In a surprise move, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias secretly jetted off
   to Egypt to seal the deal, finalizing a strategic alliance with Cairo,
   which diplomats in Athens saidrequired 13 rounds of negotiations and 15
   years to ultimately conclude.

   With the European Union and Washington increasingly concerned about
   Turkey's growing influence in the eastern Mediterranean, Greek and
   Egyptian negotiators now moved fast.

   The agreement effectively expands and consolidates both countries'
   rights to drill and explore untapped reserves in the hundreds of miles
   of sea that divides them.

   More important, Greece saidthe deal trumps a contentious maritime deal
   that Turkey recently signed with the Libyan government in Tripoli,
   allowing Turkey to drill for gas and oil in the same region, including
   within Greek waters, off the coast of Greek islands such as Crete.

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