Turkish diplomatic sources have sent a series of direct messages to Athens covering nearly every major point of friction...

Turkish diplomatic sources have sent a series of direct messages to Athens covering nearly every major point of friction between the two countries, from the controversial "Mavi Vatan" legislation to F-35 acquisitions and the long-standing casus belli threat. On the Blue Homeland bill currently moving through Ankara, Turkish sources are pushing back hard on Greek alarm. They insist the legislation has nothing to do with disputed maritime maps or "grey zones," describing it instead as a routine codification of terms like territorial waters, the continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones into Turkish domestic law. They're asking Athens to reserve judgment until the final text is submitted to parliament. On the casus belli, the same sources are trying to soften the sharpest edge of the dispute. Turkey's 1995 parliamentary resolution, they argue, was never a war threat but rather a signal that Greece extending its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles would not be recognized. They added bluntly that extending to 12 miles would reduce international waters in the Aegean from 50 percent of the sea to just 19 percent, severely restricting Turkish navigation. Regarding F-35s, Turkey says it does not view its own military buildup as threatening to Greece, and it called the CAATSA sanctions that got Turkey removed from the F-35 program a mistake. On the S-400 systems, Turkish sources acknowledged ongoing talks with both Russia and the United States, saying only that they hope to reach a result acceptable to all sides. The broader Turkish message is a pitch for strategic cooperation. Sources quoted directly said the two countries need to look 10, 20, even 30 years ahead, and that a gain for Turkey does not have to be a loss for Greece. They also took a swipe at Greek domestic politics, saying Turkey is too often used as a tool in internal political fights. #GreeceTurkey #Aegean #Diplomacy