We have been informed that M/V ACT a Turkish flagged general cargo ship which was on its way from the port of İskenderun to the port of İzmit was fired upon by a Greek Coast Guard boat while cruising off the coast of the island of Rhodes.

There is no explanation whatsoever of the fact that a merchant vessel which is unarmed by definition and ferrying cargo between two Turkish ports came under fire. Our only consolation in this incident is that there is no loss of life or injury.

We protest in the strongest terms possible this disproportionate act by the Greek authorities which disregards the most fundamental right of human life which is right to live and deem it necessary to share with the international community our expectation that no such incident is repeated.