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Greece and Italy sign ‘historic’ maritime borders accord
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Tuesday inked a maritime borders agreement delimiting an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the two countries.
The agreement, which was signed by the two foreign ministers during a visit by Di Maio to Athens and is an extension of a 1977 accord, paves the way for Greece and Italy to explore for and exploit marine resources.
It also paves the way for Greece to reach a similar deal with neighboring Albania.
“The delimitation of maritime zones with all of our neighbors in the context of international law is a consistent objective for this country,” Dendias said in comments after signing the agreement.
In a regular press briefing earlier in the day, government spokesman Stelios Petsas hailed the agreement as “a development of historical significance.”
The agreement comes amid months of mounting tension between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey and also after Ankara signed a contentious accord with the Tripoli-based government in Libya it claims gives it exploration and drilling rights in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean that overlap the Greek continental shelf.
“The delimitation of maritime zones is accomplished with valid agreements, not with invalid ones like that signed by Turkey and [the Libyan government] al-Sarraj and with maps unilaterally submitted to the United Nations,” Dendias said on Tuesday.
Dendias and Di Maio had met in Rome in February to discuss further cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector in the eastern Mediterranean, where Greece and Italy are partners on the EastMed gas pipeline project.
The EEZ agreement had been under negotiation for several years as the two sides hashed out the details, particularly with regard to reservations expressed by Rome over fishing rights in the Ionian Sea.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/253489...d-italy-sign-historic-maritime-borders-accord
*
In addition to the Greek official opinion above, let's discuss the potential effects of this unsuccessful agreement:
A Greek opposition Syriza Party deputy and former Foreign Minister Kozias, criticized the government and said: 'Unfortunately, the agreement signed with Italy is far behind the agreement that we negotiated in time. In the continental shelf agreement signed in 1977, Diaponia Island was given more areas especially in the north and now we gave up from this.'
In fact, there is another example: An Exclusive Economic Zone Agreement was signed between Greece and Albania in 2009. The first deal gave rights to the Greek islands in the Adriatic as much as the mainland of Albania. The side border also used for Greece's favor.
We sent report which we prepared about this to Albania. We warned Albania that they are being deceived. Although the agreement was signed, Albania objected to Greece and said the agreement was unlawful. Then they started a legal struggle regarding the agreement and canceled the agreement.
Greece is constantly asking for the islands to be recognized as equal maritime jurisdictions like the mainland, but could not convince either Albania or Italy. However, Greece has a claim against Turkey in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean with constantly using the same arguments.
While it is not even possible to see Meis Island on the map, they want to ignore the coasts of Anatolia and have an Eastern Mediterranean by saying 'Hey, there is a continental shelf'. Behind this courage lies The aggressive activity of Greek diplomats.
In addition, if they were an agreement between Italy with Albania and Libya, some areas that Greece had owned would be theirs. Therefore, it is quite normal for Libya and Albania to object to this agreement. Side borders were drawn in favor of Greece regardless of the rights of third countries. Two Muslim countries Libya and Albania are excluded.
(I would like to thank Barbarossa for the short summary. https://twitter.com/pagrup These are some parts of Cihat Yaycı's interview, with Kübra Par. https://www.haberturk.com/cihat-yayci-roportaji-yunan-medyasinda-2709303 )
@ANMDT
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Tuesday inked a maritime borders agreement delimiting an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the two countries.
The agreement, which was signed by the two foreign ministers during a visit by Di Maio to Athens and is an extension of a 1977 accord, paves the way for Greece and Italy to explore for and exploit marine resources.
It also paves the way for Greece to reach a similar deal with neighboring Albania.
“The delimitation of maritime zones with all of our neighbors in the context of international law is a consistent objective for this country,” Dendias said in comments after signing the agreement.
In a regular press briefing earlier in the day, government spokesman Stelios Petsas hailed the agreement as “a development of historical significance.”
The agreement comes amid months of mounting tension between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey and also after Ankara signed a contentious accord with the Tripoli-based government in Libya it claims gives it exploration and drilling rights in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean that overlap the Greek continental shelf.
“The delimitation of maritime zones is accomplished with valid agreements, not with invalid ones like that signed by Turkey and [the Libyan government] al-Sarraj and with maps unilaterally submitted to the United Nations,” Dendias said on Tuesday.
Dendias and Di Maio had met in Rome in February to discuss further cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector in the eastern Mediterranean, where Greece and Italy are partners on the EastMed gas pipeline project.
The EEZ agreement had been under negotiation for several years as the two sides hashed out the details, particularly with regard to reservations expressed by Rome over fishing rights in the Ionian Sea.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/253489...d-italy-sign-historic-maritime-borders-accord
*
In addition to the Greek official opinion above, let's discuss the potential effects of this unsuccessful agreement:
A Greek opposition Syriza Party deputy and former Foreign Minister Kozias, criticized the government and said: 'Unfortunately, the agreement signed with Italy is far behind the agreement that we negotiated in time. In the continental shelf agreement signed in 1977, Diaponia Island was given more areas especially in the north and now we gave up from this.'
In fact, there is another example: An Exclusive Economic Zone Agreement was signed between Greece and Albania in 2009. The first deal gave rights to the Greek islands in the Adriatic as much as the mainland of Albania. The side border also used for Greece's favor.
We sent report which we prepared about this to Albania. We warned Albania that they are being deceived. Although the agreement was signed, Albania objected to Greece and said the agreement was unlawful. Then they started a legal struggle regarding the agreement and canceled the agreement.
Greece is constantly asking for the islands to be recognized as equal maritime jurisdictions like the mainland, but could not convince either Albania or Italy. However, Greece has a claim against Turkey in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean with constantly using the same arguments.
While it is not even possible to see Meis Island on the map, they want to ignore the coasts of Anatolia and have an Eastern Mediterranean by saying 'Hey, there is a continental shelf'. Behind this courage lies The aggressive activity of Greek diplomats.
In addition, if they were an agreement between Italy with Albania and Libya, some areas that Greece had owned would be theirs. Therefore, it is quite normal for Libya and Albania to object to this agreement. Side borders were drawn in favor of Greece regardless of the rights of third countries. Two Muslim countries Libya and Albania are excluded.
(I would like to thank Barbarossa for the short summary. https://twitter.com/pagrup These are some parts of Cihat Yaycı's interview, with Kübra Par. https://www.haberturk.com/cihat-yayci-roportaji-yunan-medyasinda-2709303 )
@ANMDT
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