Greece is firm on its position to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, diplomatic sources in Athens said on Sunday.
Greece’s firm position was and is the country’s inalienable right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles as is clearly provided by the International Law and specifically by UN’s Treaty on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the sources stressed.
Greece has not moved from its longstanding position that the expansion of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is an inalienable sovereign right, as expressly set out by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Rozakis said that in a dialogue in good faith, “we should return to the previous positions of Turkey, which had accepted the 12 nautical miles for the mainland and the 6 nautical miles for the islands.”
“The only reasonable effort of Greece would be to discuss not 6 nautical miles for the islands, but some different range of 8 or 10 nautical miles,” he explained. He added that in the event of an agreement, no one can guarantee that Turkey will keep its word, but “we would have done everything we could to keep the peace.”
He noted that the agreement on the coastal zone is a precondition for starting the discussion on the continental shelf.
In this context, Turkish media reported that “Greece has quit its claim of 12 nautical miles,” (A-HABERTV) and “Greece has backed down on its demand to expand its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles,” (STARTV) kathimerini reported.
“back down”? Since when has Greece ever put itself in a position to “back down”. To “back down” is the position of the aggressor and not the defender.
The aggressor should not assume that a kindred, democratic, and gallant nation could fall victim to a saber rattling bellicose war mongering bunch of criminal expansionists violating international law.
These criminals can threaten and provoke all they like but they can not pirate one grain of sand or one drop of Greek water. This is 2022, not 1822. what on earth are these barbarians thinking.
TR media can interpret Rozakis’ statement as they wish
Where on earth are 6, 8, or 10 mile maritime borders negotiated? Everywhere is 12 miles in accordance to international law. Greece should not deviate from internal law and norms. Otherwise, this might confuse Greece’s allies again.
Greece can also not negotiate with some one as untrustworthy as to already challenge old treaties suddenly. Who can trust an antagonist attacking borders to converting churches into mosques , claiming Cypriot towns, searching for hydrocarbons ion another’s territory, etc., They cry victim when things are not in their favor or accuse the other of what they do. The endless and ongoing provocations are unjustifiable and intolerable, it is a miracle that armed conflict has been avoided so far by a Greece’s immortal patience and tolerance.
They can not even be trusted to join the EU with a Muslim autocrat aligning himself with Hamas, The Muslim Brotherhood, as a poor partner of NATO buying arms from Russia.
When the time comes it must be 12 miles BY LAW and not 6, or 8 or 10. Ignorance of the law or failing to abide by the law will be no excuse and must be enforced by those who subscribe to it, which is everyone on the planet. Turkey merits no special considerations.
To defy international laws or pick a fight to steal is dangerous and threatens security and peace in the region. If their tanking economy does not bring about a more democratic and just government, I dread to think what the future will hold for Turkey should it remain overly theocratic, autocratic, nationalistic, criminal, and expansionist.
in some areas Greek islands vs Turkish coast it’s not even 10 n.m.
In those areas the territorial waters are split evenly according to international law, needless to say.
but GR cannot expand to 12 nm