<p>Turkey on Thursday rejected as "groundless" claims made by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt denouncing Ankara's "unilateral provocations" over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.</p>.<p>Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Turkey of "imperialist fantasies" during a meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Cyprus and Egypt.</p>.<p>The three countries hold regular summits as part of their closer energy cooperation as they seek to create a regional energy hub, along with Israel, supplying gas to Europe.</p>.<p>They denounced Turkey's "unilateral provocations" over energy exploration in disputed waters of the eastern Mediterranean and its role in war-torn Libya and Syria.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/armenian-president-accuses-turkey-in-visit-to-nato-905323.html">Armenian president accuses Turkey in visit to NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>The Turkish foreign ministry said there would be no solution to problems in the region unless the countries involved changed their "maximalist and hostile policies".</p>.<p>"We reject the statement which contains groundless accusations and allegations against our country as a whole," the foreign ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>In defiance of warnings from Western countries, Turkey extended a gas exploration mission by its Oruc Reis research vessel in the eastern Mediterranean until October 27.</p>.<p>The Oruc Reis escorted by military navy ships has become the symbol of Ankara's appetite for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, where recent discoveries have triggered a rush for the resource.</p>.<p>Athens says Ankara is breaking international law by prospecting in Greek waters, including near the Greek island of Kastellorizo.</p>.<p>Turkey insists that it is within its rights in the energy-rich Mediterranean region, saying that the tiny island of Kastellorizo should not count for imposing Greek sovereignty.</p>
<p>Turkey on Thursday rejected as "groundless" claims made by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt denouncing Ankara's "unilateral provocations" over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.</p>.<p>Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Turkey of "imperialist fantasies" during a meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Cyprus and Egypt.</p>.<p>The three countries hold regular summits as part of their closer energy cooperation as they seek to create a regional energy hub, along with Israel, supplying gas to Europe.</p>.<p>They denounced Turkey's "unilateral provocations" over energy exploration in disputed waters of the eastern Mediterranean and its role in war-torn Libya and Syria.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/armenian-president-accuses-turkey-in-visit-to-nato-905323.html">Armenian president accuses Turkey in visit to NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>The Turkish foreign ministry said there would be no solution to problems in the region unless the countries involved changed their "maximalist and hostile policies".</p>.<p>"We reject the statement which contains groundless accusations and allegations against our country as a whole," the foreign ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>In defiance of warnings from Western countries, Turkey extended a gas exploration mission by its Oruc Reis research vessel in the eastern Mediterranean until October 27.</p>.<p>The Oruc Reis escorted by military navy ships has become the symbol of Ankara's appetite for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, where recent discoveries have triggered a rush for the resource.</p>.<p>Athens says Ankara is breaking international law by prospecting in Greek waters, including near the Greek island of Kastellorizo.</p>.<p>Turkey insists that it is within its rights in the energy-rich Mediterranean region, saying that the tiny island of Kastellorizo should not count for imposing Greek sovereignty.</p>