Ankara has provoked Greece and the international community announcing seismic research and drilling in the East Mediterranean Sea and thus in the maritime area between the Greek island of Kastelorizo and Libya.
The spokesman of President Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, said on Thursday that Ankara will proceed with seismic research and drilling in the maritime area, included in the memorandum signed with Libya.
“Due to our agreement with the official Libyan government we will continue our seismic research and drilling in the eastern Mediterranean but also in the areas we have agreed with Libya. On this issue I have to stress that we are determined, ” Kalin said.
Similar statements were recently made also by the Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez.
The European Commission spoke out about the plans raised by the Turkish spokesman. ‘It is imperative that the international law of the sea, the principle of good neighbourly relations and the sovereignty and sovereign rights over the maritime zones of all neighbouring coastal states, including those generated by their islands, need to be respected, ’Josep Borrell stated on behalf of the Commission.
Under the terms of the 1982 UN Law of the Sea Convention, the area clearly is clearly part of Greece’s EEZ as it is within 200 miles from the coast of the island of Crete.
In direct violation of the UN Convention, Ankara has steadfastly maintained that the islands have no EEZ, a position that was rejected by the US, France, and the entire EU among others.
Sourced by: Keep Talking Greece
