Greece is working hard for "Megalo Idea" in the Aegean. The Athens administration, which has pierced Lausanne treaty and deployed soldiers and weapons to the islands right under our nose, took a decision to increase the territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from 6 miles to 12 miles. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that this step does not affect Turkey, Greece's move to take this decision days before the 61st round of exploratory talks in Istanbul also contains a covert message.
"WE WILL EXPAND IN THE AEGEAN WHEN THE TIME COMES"
While Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis claimed that their decision was in accordance with international law, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias stated that this decision was the sovereign right of Greece. In his speech to the parliament, Greek Interior Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis said that the territorial waters in the Aegean Sea will be expanded in due course. Gerapetritis could not pass without stating that Greece "reserves the right to expand territorial waters in other sovereign areas".
"IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE AEGEAN SEA IN ANY WAY"
In a written statement made by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was said that Greece's move to increase its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea ends in the south of the Peloponnese and does not affect the Aegean Sea in any way.
However, this initiative of Greece is not so innocent.
"THE RESPONSE SHOULD BE SHOWN WITH A NATIONAL POSITION"
"In other words, increasing the territorial waters of these islands to 12 miles means increasing the Greek territorial waters to 12 miles in the Sea of Islands and is a reason for war. This is completely unacceptable for Turkey. Our country should be on vigilance. Before reaching this point, which is extremely contrary to the national interests of Turkey, our country and our people should be aware of the great risk and react with a national stance, while still in the first stage."
"THEY WILL CLAIM THAT ISLANDS ARE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN"
Analyzing Greece's next step, BAU DEGS President Assoc. Dr. Cihat Yaycı, "In the next stage, they will declare 12 miles in the territorial waters of the Great Broadcloth, Small Broadcloth and Cretan line in the Sea of Islands. This will be 12 miles application in the Sea of Islands. Later, they will try to impose this decision on Turkey, using the excuse that the islands are in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, as Turkey declared to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) on December 3, 2010; The division between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Sea of Islands is the line formed to reach Akyar Cape from the ends of the islands of Big Cloth, Small Cloth, Crete, Kashot, Kerpe, Rhodes. These islands are in the Sea of Islands. This is the opinion of Greece," he said.