Law of the Sea

In direct opposition to the UN Convention Ankara has steadfastly maintained that islands have no EEZ, a position that was rejected by the US, France, and the entire EU among others.

The war of words between the two countries began when outgoing foreign minister Nikos Kotzias announced that Greece will issue a presidential decree exercising its right under international law to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea.

Kotzias, with his trademark megalomania, unnecessarily opened an issue and gave an equally megalomaniacal Turkish leadership the opportunity to bring to the forefront the 1995 decision of Turkey’s parliament, which state that an extension of Greek territorial waters constitutes a casus belli, or cause for war.