Duvar English

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has deemed the return of seismic research vessel Oruç Reis to waters near the southern province of Antalya “a compromise.”

The CHP’s Central Executive Board (MYK) has also called on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to “not make compromises in our rightful cause” following an extraordinary meeting on the escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Oruç Reis returned to waters near Antalya on Sept. 13, Refinitiv data showed, a move Greece said was a positive first step in easing tensions over offshore natural resources.

But Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar played down the significance of the move, saying the ship had returned to shore as part of scheduled plans.

CHP: Diplomacy carried out by decisions of a single person

The CHP also said that it follows the developments closely.

“The fact that parliament is no longer a center of power isolated Turkey in its rightful causes in diplomacy and made it make compromises,” it said in a written statement.

“Diplomacy, which needs to be of the state, has turned into a tool in domestic politics and is now carried out based on the decisions of a single person via putting the Foreign Ministry and bureaucracy out of the picture,” the CHP added.

from Duvar English