Turkey: Establishes coastal monitoring stations in the Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey is taking new steps to control the Eastern Mediterranean, setting up coastal monitoring stations and identification centers. According to the “Liberal Party of Cyprus”, in a new move to challenge the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey includes the occupied part of Cyprus in these plans.

Ankara, according to Turkish media reports, has begun construction on two of the five Coast Guard stations. The stations will be set up to boost Turkey’s maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean. The first station will be built in Anamour and the second in Alexandretta.

Work has also begun on the establishment of an Identification and Monitoring Center as well as a Business Center in occupied Cyprus. The construction of two centers in the occupied territories is a sign of Turkey’s intentions to control ships moving in the Eastern Mediterranean region. These centers are expected to operate in parallel with the use of Turkish Coast Guard vessels.

These stations will be equipped with seat belt identification, entry, exit, speed and acceleration alarms for the selected ship type, ship authentication and navigation information, remote control and motion detection system.

It is clear that everything that Turkey is preparing will not be limited to the sea area around Turkish territory. These are moves that have to do with the surveillance of the area that Turkey itself has characterized as its own maritime zone, while questioning the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus seeks to secure its sovereign rights based on the European Union. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Christodoulidis, stated that Cyprus looks forward to the creation of a coordinated EU maritime presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Source: philenews