Against the backdrop of the Bosphorus, the exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey resume this morning in Constantinople after almost 5 years. The object of the contacts is the investigation of convergence points for possible future negotiations regarding the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, based on International Law.
As the Greek side has repeatedly stressed, the issue of demilitarization of the islands is not discussed during the exploratory contacts.
Greece does not negotiate any issue concerning national sovereignty. The country’s position is in line with International Maritime Law. The decision to expand territorial waters is a sovereign right of the country. It has made it clear that it reserves the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles anywhere and anytime.
Greece has clearly stated that it is entering the 61st round of exploratory contacts with confidence, “good faith”, zero naivete, a spirit of cooperation, a constructive climate and hopes that the talks will lead to de-escalation and that the Turkish side will come in a similar spirit.
The two delegations will pick up on the 60th round of exploratory contacts held in Athens on March 1, 2016.
After a period of Turkish provocations and violations and following the EU summit in December, which highlighted the “need for continued de-escalation to enable the rapid resumption and proper continuation of direct exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey,” on 11 January, Turkey, which is to host the talks, proposed that the talks should take place on January 25, and Greece accepted the proposal.
Source: ANA-MPA