Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ Lecture on “Implementing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean as a case study” at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) (Oslo, 16.02.2022)

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I have to thank you for the invitation. It does me a great honour. And I have to say also as a personal experience after the two COVID years, it is a great pleasure to be at a seminar in which you don’t face a screen, but you face people and you face questions.  

Greece views the Eastern Mediterranean region as an area of stability and prosperity, where all countries, all peoples should be able to enjoy peace and security.

A member of the EU, a member of the NATO alliance, Greece actively promotes synergies and regional partnerships based on International Law and the International Law of the Sea. But, needless to say, within the big framework of the United Nation’s Charter.

In this vein, my country has developed close ties with important partners of the region, extending from the Balkans to the Middle East and from North Africa to the Gulf.

On the basis of a common understanding of the Law of the Sea, we are expanding this cooperation also with countries of the Indo-Pacific region.

While advancing our bilateral relations to new heights, we have also pioneered multilateral formats of cooperation dealing with a wide variety of fields.

In this way, we express the voice and fortify the efforts of all those that are committed to safeguarding peace, stability and development.

This is the Greek response to the many challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and our wider neighbourhood.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am not bringing any news to you by saying that Greece is a traditional maritime nation.

The Greek coastline of the mainland, together with the coastline of our islands, is almost 16.000 km. It’s approximately something like the coastline of Africa, a little less.  And the Greek islands constitute approximately 1/3 of Greece’s national territory.

My country is opposed to any threat or use of force in settling any disputes, and of course maritime disputes. Greece is a State Party to UNCLOS since 1995. And the universal character of UNCLOS is evidenced by the fact that 168 parties, including the European Union per se, are bound by its provisions.

Greece has developed its policies and actions based on International Law, and of course on International Law of the Sea.

It is on this basis that we have concluded delimitation Agreements with our neighbours.

More specifically, Greece and Italy concluded in June 2020 the Agreement on the delimitation of their respective maritime zones. The delimitation line of this Agreement follows the line agreed upon between the two countries in 1977 on the delimitation of their respective continental shelves.

Two months, later, in August 2020, Greece and Egypt signed an Agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ between our two countries. The Agreement establishes a partial delimitation of the maritime boundaries.

Finally, Greece has repeatedly stated its readiness to start or resume UNCLOS based negotiations with other countries, aiming at concluding similar Agreements.

To this end, talks were initiated in October 2020 between Greece and Albania for the conclusion of a Special Agreement. An Agreement that will bring their maritime delimitation issues before the International Court of Justice.

The implementation of the provisions of UNCLOS entails the exercise by Greece, of its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with the Convention, in its maritime zones.

This includes the recently proclaimed Greek EEZ based on the Greek-Egyptian delimitation Agreement.

Furthermore, Greece has recently extended its territorial sea from 6 to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea in western Greece. And it reserves, of course, its right to extend it in other parts of its territory as well.

It has also proceeded to the closure of bays and the drawing of straight baselines in the same region, in accordance with the relevant provisions of UNCLOS.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Challenging the implementation of UNCLOS in the Eastern Mediterranean seriously affects peace and security in our region.

This is demonstrated by the conduct of our neighbour Turkey.

Turkey refuses to adhere to UNCLOS as it does not recognize that islands are entitled to maritime zones.

Neither it recognizes our right stemming from UNCLOS to extend our territorial waters.

To this end, Turkey even threatens Greece with war, should Greece decide to extend its territorial sea beyond 6 nautical miles, according to UNCLOS.

The casus belli, as it is called, was proclaimed by the Turkish National Assembly in 1995.

This stance on the part of Turkey is contrary to the UN Charter and a blatant example of contravention of international law.

It violates the fundamental principles of refraining from the threat or use of force and of the peaceful resolution of disputes among nations.

Moreover, it goes against the basic principles on which NATO is founded.

Withdrawing the threat is a necessary prerequisite for a substantial improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.

Furthermore, Turkey’s illegal conduct in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean includes violations of Greek territorial waters and Greek national airspace, as well as challenging Greek sovereignty on a number of islands ceded to Greece by related international treaties.

This conduct is paired with the expansionist “Blue Homeland” theory of Turkey.

A theory claiming extended maritime areas in the Aegean Sea and in the Eastern Mediterranean which belong to its neighbours.

UNCLOS which also reflects customary law clearly provides that the islands, regardless of their size, have full entitlement to a continental shelf and an EEZ, as any other land territory.

The signing of the so-called MoU between Turkey and the provisional Government of National Accord of Libya on maritime delimitation in the Eastern Mediterranean is a flagrant case of contravention to these rules of the Law of the Sea.

Delimitation, according to UNCLOS, takes place only between States with opposite or adjacent coasts.

Nevertheless, Turkey and Libya are not States with opposite or adjacent coasts. They have no common boundaries.

The provisions of this illegal MoU deprive Greek islands, including the island of Crete – Crete is the fifth biggest island in the Mediterranean with a population of 600.000 – of their maritime zones beyond 6 nautical miles.

It is obvious that such an action contravenes any sense of geography, logic or maritime delimitation.

Greece constantly declares its willingness to negotiate with Turkey the resolution of the outstanding difference, namely the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ, in accordance always with International Law and specifically the Law of the Sea and, failing an agreement bilaterally, to submit our difference to the Court.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Greece has developed a dynamic approach in promoting International Law and in particular UNCLOS, in international relations.

It has enhanced its relations and it has established partnerships on a bilateral, regional and international level.

This approach contributes to peace and stability in the Aegean Sea, in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

Needless to say that I will be extremely happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you so much.