Turkey condemns Greece's maritime jurisdiction say on defense deal with France

The 63rd round of the consultative talks between Turkey and Greece will take place in Ankara on Oct. 6, Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on Oct. 1.

The statement came on the same day when Turkey condemned a statement by Greece about the maritime jurisdiction regarding the Greek-French defense deal.

"Greece's claims on maximalist maritime jurisdiction and airspace are against international law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç said in a written statement.

"It is a vain hope that Greece can make us accept these claims, which are also questioned by the international community, by forming bilateral military alliances against Turkey, in a way that harms the NATO alliance," Bilgiç said.

Earlier, Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said that the Greek-French defense deal also covers the maritime jurisdiction.

"Such vain efforts," Bilgiç said, "will further boost our determination to protect both our own rights and the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] in the Aegean and Mediterranean."

He also said that Greece's policy of armament and isolation of Turkey is "problematic" as it will harm both itself and the EU and threaten regional peace and stability.

Turkey, which has the longest continental coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, has rejected maritime boundary claims by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, stressing that their excessive claims violate the sovereign rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey and Greece were at loggerheads over territory and undersea energy resources last year after Ankara sent several drillships to explore energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish and Greek military officials launched talks to...

Continue reading on: