Turkey has revived its position on “Aegean grey zones”, saying Greece’s new spatial framework for renewable energy sources has no legal effect on Ankara.
The Turkish Defence Ministry issued the statement after Greece’s Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources came into force on Wednesday, following a decision by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou.
Ankara rejects Greece’s framework
The Turkish Defence Ministry said the Greek plan “has no legal consequences” for Turkey and does not affect its position.
According to Ankara, the framework includes formations “whose ownership has not been transferred to Greece through international agreements”.
The same position was expressed on Wednesday by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli.
In its latest statement, the Turkish Defence Ministry said Turkey remains determined to protect its “rights, interests and concerns” in the Aegean Sea under international law.
It added that Turkey favours resolving disputes between the two Aegean coastal states on the basis of international law, equality and good-neighbourly relations, while promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the region.
Tensions over maritime zones
The Turkish reaction came only days after two presidential decrees were published in Turkey’s official gazette concerning the designation of marine parks in the North Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
According to Kathimerini, the methodology used by Turkey conflicts with international law and effectively brings Ankara’s approach to the determination of maritime zones into practice.
The latest developments point to a new phase in Turkey’s approach to bilateral relations with Greece, moving further away from the period described as “calm waters”.
They also appear to diverge from the spirit and content of the Athens Declaration, which sought to maintain a framework of dialogue and good-neighbourly relations between the two countries.
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