The government is preparing for a likely tense summer with Turkey, if it proceeds with legislation codifying its territorial claims.
Thus far, the intent to pursue the legislation had only been mentioned by leaks of unofficial consultation papers to Turkish media. On Thursday, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the news in a statement saying that the draft law will define Turkey’s rights in maritime zones under its jurisdiction and will plug gaps in domestic legislation. The statement further says that the ministry had provided input through military, technical, academic and legal experts and noted that Turkish armed forces will protect Turkish rights with “unshakable determination.”
Both Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias reacted to this statement.
“If any country chooses to take unilateral measures, which, according to international law, must be agreed bilaterally or multilaterally, these are only for internal (consumption) and cannot be applied internationally,” Gerapetritis said, adding that Greece can react in many ways.
Dendias said that Turkey has “revisionist designs, which have been escalating recently, and which invoke nonexistent rights.”
