AEGEAN SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-267-4-12-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 24, 2009
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: August 21, 1976
• Content Type: CABLE

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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/24: LOC-HAK-267-4-12-8 b
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DE WTE 4002 2342033' ~-'
0 21204OZ AUG 76
FM THE SITUATION ROOM//TOSCO 185//
TO GENERAL SCOWCROFT/VAIL
ZEN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SENSITIVE WH61134
TOSCO 185
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
WARNING NOTICE SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS-INVOLVED,,
ITEM NO: 4 DATE: AUGUST 21, 1976
SUBJECT: AEGEAN SITUATION
REF : PRESS
ACCORDING TO THE PRESS, AN OFFICIAL OF THE TURKISH MINING
RESEARCH INSTITUTE SAID ON 20 AUGUST THAT TURKEY COULD START
TEST DRILLING FOR OIL IN THE AEGEAN IN LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH.
DRILLING WOULD BE BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CURRENT
. 9 EXPLORATION OF THE RESEARCH SHIP SISMIK I. THE OFFICIAL WENT ON..
.TO SAY THAT A SHIP NOW DRILLING IN THE BLACK SEA FOR THE TURKISH
PETROLEUM COMPANY WOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE AEGEAN.
NO DOUBT SENSITIVE TO THE POTENTIAL IMPACT -OF THIS REVELATION
ON GREEK-TURKISH TENSIONS, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER DEMIREL ON THE
. - SAME DAY NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT YET DECIDED WHETHER
TO GO AHEAD WITH SUCH DRILLING. DEMIREL DID NOT, HOWEVER,
INDICATE IF THE GOVERNMENT INTENDEDSTO LIMIT ANY SUCH DRILLING
TO TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS, LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY
OF ATTEMPTS TO OPERATE IN DISPUTED WATERS. THUS EVEN WITH
DEMIREL'S DISCLAIMER THE ANNOUNCEMENT FURTHER UNDERSCORES ANKARA'S
CLAIM TO A LARGER SHARE OF POTENTIAL AEGEAN SEABED RESOURCES.
THE SHIP CURRENTLY OPERATING I
7-X1
25X1
THE BLACK SEA IS BELIEVED TO BE A FOREIGN VESSEL UNDER CONTRACT
TO THE TURKISH PETROLEUM COMPANY. INTERNATIONAL CONCERN OVER THE
POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION IN THE AEGEAN COULD PROBABLY
BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE A FOREIGN COMPANY TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY
THE IMPLICATIONS OF ALLOWING ITS SHIP TO GET INVOLVED.
MEANWHILE, DEMIREL'S MID-WEEK STATEMENT THAT THE AEGEAN
ISLANDS--REINFORCED'DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS AS A RESULT OF
CHRONIC GREEK-TURKISH TENSIONS--CANNOT REMAIN ARMED CONTINUES:;
TO STIR CONTROVERSY. GREEK PRIME MINISTER CARAMANLIS, WHO HAS
ALREADY TAKEN STRONG EXCEPTION TO THE STATEMENT, REPORTEDLY ASKED..
. FOR AN EXPLANATION FROM ANKARA. IN REPLY, ACCORDING TO THE GREEK
PRESS, THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY ATTEMPTED TO PLAY DOWN THE,.
ARGUMENT BY STATING THAT DEMIREL HAD NOT MEANT TO CHALLENGE
GREEK SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ISLANDS IN QUESTION. E-2 IMPDET.
04 05
4 002
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rn~nENTIAI SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2009/11/24: LOC-HAK-267-4-12-8