Greece has described Turkey’s declaration of “national” marine parks as “invalid and lacking legal effect” insofar as they extend into areas outside Turkish jurisdiction and within the Greek continental shelf, according to a formal diplomatic demarche delivered to Ankara.
The demarche was issued in response to both public Turkish statements regarding Special Spatial Planning Frameworks and presidential decisions issued on August 15, declaring two “national” marine parks.
Diplomatic sources said Greece rejects Turkish claims surrounding the issue as arbitrary and without legal foundation. During the delivery of the protest, they said, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry submitted diplomatic notes reiterating positions that Athens had already publicly dismissed.
“The Greek side categorically rejects the Turkish claims as arbitrary and lacking any legal basis,” diplomatic sources said. They added that sovereignty in the Aegean “has been clearly and definitively determined by the relevant international treaty texts.”
The sources also said Greece considers the declaration of “national” marine parks invalid to the extent that they cover areas beyond Turkish jurisdiction and within Greece’s continental shelf.
