Newsletters
Türkiye's National Defense Ministry said Greece's militarization of demilitarized Aegean islands does not alter their legal status, which it said is clearly established under international treaties, in response to a question at the ministry's weekly press briefing.
"The demilitarized status of the Eastern Aegean Islands is clearly regulated by the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris Peace Treaties. Armament activities carried out contrary to this status, and statements aimed at legitimizing them, do not change the existing legal situation," the ministry said.
The briefing was held aboard the TCG Anadolu off Aksaz on the occasion of the Distinguished Observer Day of the Denizkurdu-I exercise.
Türkiye's Foreign Ministry echoed similar sentiments, saying it expects Greece to "refrain from such activities" that could harm regional peace and stability and to comply with its treaty obligations.
The ministry also reaffirmed Ankara's commitment to dialogue and good neighborliness in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, while stressing it would continue to defend its rights under international law and take whatever measures necessary to protect national security.
Responding to questions about a planned undersea electric cable meant to link Greece, Greek Cyprus and Israel, the ministry said Türkiye's "determination to protect our maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and the rights and interests arising from our continental shelf continues."
It pointed to the maritime boundary agreement with Libya, along with the continental shelf boundaries it notified to the United Nations on March 18, 2020, as the legal framework governing the matter.
The ministry said that under international law, activities such as laying cables or pipelines, or conducting scientific research, on Türkiye's continental shelf must be coordinated in advance with Türkiye.
"In this context, unauthorized activities that disregard our country's rights and interests are not permitted, and developments in the region are being closely monitored with the necessary measures being taken. Türkiye will continue to exercise the rights and authorities arising from being a coastal state in the Eastern Mediterranean, and to resolutely protect its rights and interests in its maritime jurisdiction areas," the ministry said.
The ministry addressed claims that the recently publicized air defense system in Greek Cyprus does not pose a direct threat to the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
"The claims that have recently come up, suggesting that the air defense system in the Greek Cypriot administration does not constitute a direct threat to the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC, cannot be grounds for disregarding the security, legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people," the ministry said, adding, "Our ministry closely follows all developments in the region and takes the necessary measures. Our Turkish Armed Forces also continue their training uninterrupted through activities carried out in the international waters and airspace of the Mediterranean."
"As a guarantor country, Türkiye will continue, as it has in the past, to take the necessary measures today and in the future to protect the security, peace and welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people, in cooperation with the authorities of the TRNC," the statement noted.
On recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, the ministry said, "In the current period, as crises and tensions increase in our region, we are closely following military developments on the island of Cyprus. We once again emphasize that the Greek Cypriot administration's continuing armament activities and the military cooperation it has developed with third countries could negatively affect the delicate balances and atmosphere of trust on the island, and that such steps do not contribute to the establishment of trust between the parties or to peace and stability on the island."
Asked about the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, the ministry said, "The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement offers a framework for strengthening joint defense capacity and deterrence through the development of defense and security cooperation among member countries."
"Activities under the agreement are carried out in line with the joint decisions of member countries and relevant national processes," the ministry noted.
2 min read
Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk underscored that Israel's systematic attacks and expansionist stance continue to fuel instability in the region.
He said women and children continue to lose their lives in Israel's indiscriminate attacks on Gaza.
"It is encouraging illegal settler terrorism, obstructing the fulfillment of displaced Palestinians' housing needs by blocking the entry of fuel and construction materials sent to the region as part of humanitarian aid, and preventing the operation of hospitals," Akturk said.
He said Israel continues violating U.N. Security Council resolutions through its demolition activities in southern Lebanon and that attacks on settlements in southern Syria continue.
Emphasizing that the attacks must stop, Akturk said, "These actions by Israel, which are increasingly undermining public confidence in international law, constitute a threat not only to the region but to the entire world. We once again emphasize that Israel must immediately end these actions that violate international law."
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
