Turkey has sent a diplomatic note to Athens reiterating its longstanding positions on the Aegean and objecting to recent Greek initiatives, according to Turkish newspaper Milliyet.
Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper reported that the document was delivered to the Greek authorities a few days ago. In the note, Ankara argues that “no activity that alters the status quo in the Aegean will be allowed,” focusing on the potential cross-border environmental impact of Greece’s plans and warning that it does not accept unilateral actions that it believes affect its rights.
Turkey also revived its longstanding “grey zones” claim, arguing that there are geographical formations in the Aegean whose sovereignty was not transferred to Greece through international treaties.
According to Milliyet, the Turkish note further maintains that maritime boundaries can be determined only through a bilateral agreement between Greece and Turkey, taking into account “all relevant conditions.”
Athens: Full Commitment to International Law
The Greek government has made clear that all initiatives concerning marine parks and maritime spatial planning are being implemented in full accordance with international law.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis recently described Turkish plans for marine parks outside Turkey’s territorial waters but within what Greece considers its continental shelf as contrary to international law. He stressed that Greece is acting “without compromising its national rights.”
The Greek Foreign Ministry has also reiterated that any unilateral actions aimed at creating faits accomplis or challenging the legal status of maritime zones in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean do not affect the rights deriving from international law.
