Law of the sea

Russia has urged Greece and Turkey to engage in dialogue over their maritime disputes, while recognizing the right of states to determine their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Greece's extension of its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea does not affect the Aegean Sea, Turkey said on Jan. 20.

ISTANBUL - Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in an announcement Wednesday that Greece's extension of its territorial waters from 6 to 12 miles does not regard the Aegean Sea and repeated the country's objections against such an extension in the Aegean.

The Greek Parliament voted in favour of the extension of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles

As the bill for the extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea is set for Parliamentary approval Wednesday, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias insisted Tuesday that the expansion when it takes place in Crete will also affect its eastern part.

A debate in Parliament on a Foreign Ministry bill extending Greece's territorial waters in the Ionian Sea was granted an additional day, with the vote now expected on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

According to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the discussion was extended to two days from one to give lawmakers wishing to present their position on the issue ample time to do so.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his country's position that Greece has a right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, adding however that in cases of overlapping interests, the two sides have to find a solution through dialogue.

Greece is legally bound by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and EU law - the bloc has signed and ratified UNCLOS - in any talks with Turkey on the delimitation of maritime zones, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Friday.

Greece is at a very important juncture in its foreign policy, during which much will be decided.

The debates in Parliament on the procurement of French fighter jets and on the extension of the country's territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles will be a test, and a very important one.

The draft bill extending Greece's western territorial waters to 12 nautical miles had its first reading at the committee level in Parliament on Tuesday.