Dendias: Kastellorizo crucial in Greece’s EEZ, continental shelf
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias visited the remote eastern island of Kastellorizo in the Dodecanese on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the island.
During his visit, Dendias emphasized the island’s significant geopolitical importance and its crucial role in Greece’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Greece’s position on Kastellorizo, which is part of the Megisti complex, is “clear and fully supported by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Dendias said.
“Article 121, paragraph 2 of the Convention grants islands, regardless of their size, territorial waters, contiguous zones, EEZ and continental shelves,” he added, noting that any contrary view is unacceptable and that Greece has a constitutional obligation to defend its rights under the Law of the Sea. Allowing any violation would create a legal paradox and challenge international maritime law.
“Any attempt to separate the island from the Dodecanese because of its proximity to the Turkish coast, or any special treatment of Kasellorizo outside the international legal framework and The Hague, is an unfounded claim,” Dendias said.
Regarding Greece’s EEZ agreement with Egypt, Dendias said it strengthens both national and European interests and underlines Greece’s sovereign rights in the region. He added that Greece, Egypt and Cyprus share a common position based on respect for international and maritime law.
