Diplomatic sources denied reports of NATO-backed talks between Greece and Turkey to ease tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Kathimerini reported.

According to the sources, they take into account the intention of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to work on creating de-escalation mechanisms within NATO. However, de-escalation can only be achieved by the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish ships from the Greek continental shelf, they added.

Stoltenberg said that Greece and Turkey had agreed to start technical talks to avoid accidental clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean.