“Irakleio NAVTEX Station message number ha98-788/20, promulgated on 15 dec 20 as covering a region in Turkish NAVTEX service area, is a violation of demilitarized status of Castellorizo island set by the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty,” the statement said.

On August 30, Greece deployed troops to Meis (Kastellorizio) Island, just two kilometers away from the Turkish shores, in violation of the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty that pledge a demilitarized status to the island amid ongoing tension between the two NATO allies in the eastern Mediterranean.

NAVTEX, sometimes styled Navtex or NavTex, is an international automated medium frequency direct-printing service for delivery of navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, as well as urgent maritime safety information to ships.

NAVTEX allows ships to inform other vessels about their presence in an area, as well as other information.

NAVTEX can also serve as a warning to other vessels to steer clear of an area due to the sensitivity of the work being carried out and a signal of a country's sovereign exploration rights. (ILKHA)