Athens was quick to respond on Monday to the same-day reaction by neighboring Turkey over the official creation of two marine parks in Greek waters – practically all of the Ionian Sea and a portion of the southern Aegean – simply reminding that the exercise of a country’s sovereign rights does not comprise an object of negotiation.
In an announcement, the Greek foreign ministry underlined that the creation of such geographically defined marine parks is based entirely on environmental criteria, moreover they were declared within Greek territorial waters.
Additionally, Athens again dismissed the unilateral Turkish interpretation of “enclosed or semi-enclosed seas” as baseless.
“The establishment of Marine National Parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas is based purely on environmental criteria in areas under Greek sovereignty. Any reference to enclosed or semi-enclosed seas is entirely unfounded.
“The legal status of the Aegean Sea is clear. Greek sovereignty over this area has been clearly and permanently defined by international treaties.
“Greece has consistently been in favour of dialogue with Türkiye (Turkey), intending to resolve the only Greek-Turkish dispute, in accordance with international law, namely the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries.
“The exercise of rights stemming from Greek sovereignty is not subject to negotiation.”
