Greece calls on Turkey to respect international treaties
Athens has reacted after Turkey’s new foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu, reiterated a claim about the existence of areas of undefined sovereignty in the Aegean Sea.
Labeling Ankara’s claims as “incomprehensible,” a statement Tuesday by Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantinos Koutras said the maritime borders between the two states are “clearly determined based on the international agreements in force (1923 Treaty of Lausanne, 1926 Athens Protocol, 1932 Italian-Turkish Agreement and Protocol).
“These treaties are of course in force and are binding for Turkey, and so any of its claims in the current case are legally groundless and conflict with international law,” the statement said.
Moreover, as regards the delimitation of maritime zones, Koutras said it is clear that wherever a relevant agreement does not exist, the principle of equidistance/median line is implemented based on the customary law applicable to all parties.
Speaking to Kathimerini, diplomatic sources expressed discontent over Ankara’s gestures, saying they did little to help regional stability at a time when both countries are being run by caretaker governments.
