Kastellorizo once again

Kastellorizo ​​once again

Previously, I wrote about Kastellorizo ​​in this blog, and once again the remote Greek island recently made the headlines with a new Turkish effort to back up that country's claims to the sea area around the island. The Turks sent a research vessel to explore for natural gas, guarded by no less than five naval ships to frustrate any Greek counter-action. Even so, the Greeks are said to have forced a collision with the research vessel.

The Turkish ‘armada’ underway

Kastellorizo ​​plays a leading role in my novel De Batavier (The Batavian), which was published last year. Already during my visit to the island in 2013, the tension was palpable, even though the islanders do their shopping at the market in the Turkish coastal town of Kaş, which is only a few nautical miles away. A recent newspaper article even states that the islanders have a current account with the shopkeepers on the Turkish mainland!

Kaş harbour

However, the political situation remains grim, with repeated border incidents in the waters contested by both sides. The origins of all this lie in the past: the islands were mandated to Italy after the Turkish-Greek war of 1919-1922 and transferred to Greece in 1946. The Turks have never accepted this.

Kastellorizo

In The Batavian I stage a Turkish invasion of Kastellorizo, which is thwarted by Greek intervention. Later I describe the difficulties in rescuing distressed refugees in the disputed waters between Kastellorizo ​​and Kaş, as any border crossing by the coastguard of either country turns into an international incident of impossible proportions. The Batavian is a work of fiction, but the background is everyday reality. The Batavian can still be ordered (in Dutch only) from the bookstore or my publisher, Palmslag.

The Cargo

My new book Het Transport (The Cargo) will be going to the printer soon. As mentioned earlier, my publisher Palmslag will publish the book in early October. Due to current restrictions on large gatherings, no book presentation will be held for the time being. Instead, thoughts are turned to an online presentation, possibly an interview or a promotional film. I will discuss this with my agent, Hanneke Tinor-Centi, shortly.

I am writing this on board my yacht Manokwari, lying in the port of Harlingen, where part of The Cargo takes place. The plan was to sail to Vlieland, but bad weather has thrown a spanner in the works. We are waiting here for stormy weather forecast later today ...

For both The Batavian and The Cargo, English translations have been prepared.

To be continued...