MAP ABOVE – the expansion of Greece’s territorial waters to 12 miles automatically solves most legal problems between Greece and Turkey. Why should Greece be the ONLY country on Earth that has a 6-mile territorial water zone?
source – estianews.gr
The move that would automatically and from the outset (ab initio) nullify all other provisions of the Turkish National Assembly: casus belli, continental shelf, EEZ, airspace
According to Ankara’s television mouthpiece, the Turkish National Assembly is considering turning the daily violation of Greek sovereign rights in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean (Kastellorizo) into “law.”
By Kostas Kolmer
Just as with the intimidating casus belli of 1995, from now on, even the simple journey from Piraeus to Psara may supposedly require approval from the “admiralty” of Smyrna — much like last year’s blocking of the laying of a European Union electric cable near Kasos.
Suddenly, everyone in Athens woke up in shock, wondering whether such Turkish audacity is possible. Even PASOK’s Members of the European Parliament modestly asked the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the gracious Kaja Kallas, whether she was considering sanctions against Turkey, to which she reserved her answer.
The only reaction from the Athens government was the speech of Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis at a New Democracy conference, where he declared that relations with Turkey had never been better.
Proof of this, according to the author, is that Turkish fishing trawlers operate within Greece’s six-mile territorial waters and “surely no one would start a war over red mullet,” as Mr. Adonis would supposedly say.
But now Ankara’s game is escalating. This is not like the Turkey-Libya memorandum, nor merely a NOTAM reserving the entire northern Aegean for Turkish naval exercises “for an indefinite period.” These are quasi-legal faits accomplis intended to completely strip Greek sovereignty from the islands of the Aegean archipelago and the Kastellorizo complex, at a time when world attention is focused on the Strait of Hormuz and Russian President Putin has appointed former German Chancellor Schröder — a Gazprom employee and opponent of Cyprus joining the EU — as representative for the upcoming Ukraine peace negotiations.
“With the seabed, we should concern ourselves?” leftist activists write with markers on the windows of the Athens metro. “That concerns the fish!”
Yes, but the violation of one country’s sovereign rights by another amounts to intent for war and occupation of territory. That is how it happened in Cyprus in the 1960s, followed by the Turkish invasion. Under the much-criticized Kostas Simitis, Turkey’s rights in the Aegean were acknowledged, and ELIAMEP was called upon to interpret the return to an Ottoman-era order that Andreas Miaoulis in 1821 and Pavlos Kountouriotis aboard the battleship G. Averof in 1912–13 had overturned.
“The Dodecanese were wrongly given to Greece in 1947, but without national defense against foreign invasion, and it was wrong for French warships to go to Cyprus this year when Hezbollah struck Cypriot territory,” declared Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of the neighboring country.
Let us at least hope for sanctions from the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs against Turkey. Perhaps visas for Turks freely traveling through northern Greece will be restricted. But what of it? German industrialists and French investors are demanding Turkey’s participation in European defense. Will the neo-Ottoman “legislation” be withdrawn at the UN Security Council? Certainly not.
There is only one response worthy of this new Turkish provocation: Greece must declare 12 nautical miles of territorial waters.
Then all the other provisions of the Turkish National Assembly — casus belli, continental shelf claims, EEZ claims, airspace claims — would automatically and from the outset (ab initio) become null and void.
The details, the author says, could be handled by a representative of the French President, a close friend of the Greek Prime Minister.
After all, why do we have friends?
The Greek Government, The Greek People, by solidarity , who comprise the Greek Nation, must not deviate from the 12 mile nautical limit as almost all nations have accepted upon ratification of The International Laws of The Seas. This 12 mile limit is crucial for Hellenic Sovereignty , subject by its ability to accomplish, to succeed with some acute diplomacy to establish the righteous legal status in the Mediterranean Sea. There maybe a unique opportunity due to the prolonged war with Iran? A consequence of the dire of events. Greece could be the beneficiary due to the void; the murky balance of power that compromise Israel’s and Turkey’s Middle East Interventions. The chronic turmoil ,irreparable economic liabilities that must be re-calibrated to sustain peace and stability in the region. Greece must wake up and place its vital interests beyond party politics and grab the bull by the horns.
This is of the highest concerns to cure the hostilities with Strong European and US Guarantees. This is the time -2026! Phil-Hellenism has been Earned, it must be confirmed, put into practice for mutual foreign policy
relationships to attain universal peace.
In just three years, Turkish investment in Greece has nearly tripled from approximately €312 million to almost €1 billion overwhelmingly through purchases of Greek real estate most of which surprise! is on the eastern Aegean islands. That said, Turkey cannot purchase Greek sovereignty or erase Greece’s lawful maritime rights. But extensive Turkish ownership in strategically sensitive islands and coastal regions can create economic dependence, access and political leverage while Ankara continues to threaten war if Greece extends its territorial waters from six to twelve nautical miles. Greece should welcome “legitimate” investment…if there is such a thing.. without allowing national security, strategic land and sovereignty to be quietly placed on the auction block.