The Greek government welcomes the return of a Turkish research vessel to the port of Antalya from the disputed eastern Mediterranean region, which was at the center of the summer confrontation between Greece and Turkey over energy rights.

The research vessel Oruc Reis has returned to the port of Antalya for the first time in over a month after Turkey announced in July that it would send a vessel to operate in waters that Greece claims are its exclusive jurisdiction.

A dispute over potential oil and gas reserves sparked a military build-up in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey and Greece sent warships to the area where the Oruc Reis was doing seismic research.