Greek diplomatic sources were quick to reply, albeit in an unofficial manner, on Saturday in the wake of a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman’s criticism over Athens’ successful bid to refer to the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime accord at the latest European Council meeting’s conclusions.
The reference in the conclusions of Thursday’s European Council meeting was deemed as a direct and uncompromising rebuke of the accord, viewed by Athens as utterly illegal and in opposition of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Specifically, the germane statement reads: “The European Council recalls that the Türkiye-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States.”
In an initial reaction, the Turkish side accused Greece – and fellow EU member-state Cyprus – of doing what Athens and the EU Council point to Ankara as doing, namely, violating international law and disrupting regional peace and stability. The Turkish foreign ministry
Turkish ministry spokesman Öncü Keçel also accused Greece and the “Greek Cypriots” of “insistence in imposing their maximalist claims on the European Union (EU), which are contrary to international law and the principle of equity.”
The reference to “Greek Cypriots” is a standing practice of avoiding the use of Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized entity that is a European Union member-state, the bloc that Turkey wants to join. Turkey, as a non-signatory, is also opposed to UNCLOS provisions in dealing with maritime law issues in the Aegean and east Mediterranean, while applying the convention, a la carte, in other maritime regions. i.e. the Black Sea.
The Turkish spokesman also said the EU “…EU should call on its member states to comply with international law, instead of vouching for claims that do not carry any legal validity.”
Diplomatic sources reply
“Invoking international law requires that it be adopted in its entirety… Practices such as failing to sign the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which 168 countries have adopted, undermining the centuries-old status of world heritage sites, and a threat of war in the event (Greece) exercises a right emanating from international law, leave no room for suggestions,” the sources in Athens noted, adding: “Greece will continue to consistently serve international law and good neighborly relations. However, this should apply to everyone.”
