Türkiye makes diplomatic move against Greece’s Aegean transgressions

Amid repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, Türkiye has made a diplomatic move on September 1 by sending a letter addressing possible solutions to disputes in the Aegean Sea, diplomatic sources said.

According to the sources on Tuesday, letters signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were sent to 25 capitals in the European Union and to the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The letters were also sent to leaders including the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Explaining Türkiye's position and views on the solution of Aegean problems, the letters drew attention to the unlawful actions and maximalist demands of Greece.

Emphasising that there are a number of closely related and interrelated problems in the Aegean Sea, such as the width of territorial waters and national airspace, the limitation of the continental shelf and territorial waters, the letter also noted the violation of the non-military status of the Eastern Aegean Islands, according to the sources.

The letter also stressed that there are islands, islets and rocks and service areas, such as search and rescue region (SRR), flight information region (FIR) and NAVTEX, whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece via valid international agreements.

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Ankara pro-dialogue, co-operation

The letters also emphasised that Greece claims to have 10-nautical miles of airspace despite the width of the territorial waters in the Aegean being 6-nautical miles. 

They underlined that Greece is the only country in the world which has non-overlapping territorial waters and airspace borders that are not recognised by any other country.

Furthermore, Türkiye expressed the belief that issues in the Aegean can be resolved within the framework of international law with mutual recognition of the fundamental rights and legitimate interests of the two countries.

According to the sources, the letter affirmed that Ankara is pro-dialogue and cooperation despite Athens avoiding dialogue and escalating tensions while including the EU as part of Aegean problems.

Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarised under treaty, saying that such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace.

According to Turkish National Defence Ministry sources, Greece violated Türkiye’s airspace and territorial waters over 1,100 times in the first eight months of 2022 alone.

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