Image via WikipediaWhen patriotism and the respect of one’s country, its people and its heritage is absent from its leaders, when international treaties and doctrines as well as official maps and boarders are looked at and regarded as simple (and soiled) toilet paper… then not only does democracy not exist in that country, but it has also totally and without a doubt waved its national sovereignty.
Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas argued against efforts to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for Greece on the grounds that this would unnecessarily complicate talks underway with Turkey on establishing the limits of the Aegean continental shelf. He made the statement while talking to the popular 'Real FM' radio station (can be found on the side panel). ''
"There is no need to outline the borders of the EEZ in order to be able to use mineral wealth in a sea such as the Mediterranean. The extent of the EEZ and the continental shelf are the same," Droutsas said. He said that Greece was currently in the process of exploratory talks with Turkey to agree on the limits of the continental shelf and that it would be unwise to complicate the talks with the introduction of new terms that essentially added nothing.
At this point he lashed out at the main opposition New Democracy party, which he said had failed to address this issue when in power, and was now attempting to exploit it politically in order to generate a negative climate for the government. That last remark did not surprise me, since the ruling PASOK party continually blames the right wing party ND for everything that is occurring in this country, in an attempt to maintain voter momentum, all the while forgetting that they have been ruling this country for over two decades!
At this point he lashed out at the main opposition New Democracy party, which he said had failed to address this issue when in power, and was now attempting to exploit it politically in order to generate a negative climate for the government. That last remark did not surprise me, since the ruling PASOK party continually blames the right wing party ND for everything that is occurring in this country, in an attempt to maintain voter momentum, all the while forgetting that they have been ruling this country for over two decades!
This stance, said Mira Adam in the “E” daily is more than “obvious” on where it wants to go, because the EEZ of every nation, as well as its continental shelf, stand as the national sovereignty of the country in question, and this is something that is not negotiable nor can it be placed on a back burner to be negotiated at a later time.
Droutsas statements gives a reason for simple citizens such as myself to come to the conclusion that there is a design to create “shifting” boarders in the Aegean.
Turkey’s intentions are obvious. Their aim is to create a huge exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean, as it has already done in the area of the Black Sea, without implementing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is obvious that this country does not recognise international law of the sea and, thus, does not accept that Greece and Cyprus (as well as Egypt) have the same rights to the continental shelf of the Mediterranean.
For those of you who do not know, under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state’s territorial sea out to 200 nautical miles from its coast. In casual usage, the term may include the territorial sea and even the continental shelf beyond the 200 mile limit.
It is believed that the Turkish EEZ is covering the whole area from the south coast of Turkey up to the EEZ of Egypt, and denying the Greek EEZ from the islands of Crete and Rhodes all the way up to Kastellorizo Island, recognising only a small EEZ to Cyprus.
In simple words, Turkey is trying to “section” the EEZ between Greece and Cyprus to its advantage. By completely defying UNCLOS, Ankara claims that the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo is more or less “non-existent”, without territorial waters, a continental shelf and/or EEZ of its own.
Greece has not yet claimed an exclusive economic zone, although it is entitled to do so, as per UNCLOS 1982 as well as customary international law. This had led to direct threat by Turkey of casus belli (in other words war) if Greece was to declare her exclusive economic zone, although Greece restrained from any kind of declaration so far.
What is troubling with all of this is that the statements by Droutsas yesterday give us the impression that Greece is negotiating part of its national sovereignty. The article in the “E” daily said that this is being conducted in the framework of helping the Erdogan to be re-elected as president of Turkey so that he could show good will in the future. How lame is that?
They are definitely toying with our brains. If they go ahead and begin “shiftin” boarders in the Aegean dear friends a multitude of problems will be created on many islands which, might even from one minute to the other, even change ethnicity….
I do not know much about diplomacy, but one thing I agree with Mr. Droutsas on is that matters of this sort do indeed require a period of time to be discussed. That is why it is surprising to me how the foreign ministry arrived at the conclusion, according to what was said in “E” daily, that the issue will magically be resolved after the federal elections in Turkey occur… This is something that is worth being questioned.
Commenting on the statements made by Droutsas, and while addressing a gathering of military veterans at the ND headquarters in Athens, main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras said that Greece will not claim the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) immediately to avoid putting a stress on the talks, Samaras said "this is a cause of concern. The government refuses to activate an internationally guaranteed right of our country sending the wrong signals to the other party thus leading to negative consequences."
He underlined that "Turkey's demand for a 50-50 division is categorically rejected. "We insist that claiming the EEZ will fully guarantee our national interests within the framework of the international law," he said.
Referring to Turkey's attitude toward Greece, he underlined that "Turkey continues to provoke and question our national sovereign rights. Its stance is problematic and provocative."
He characterised the continuation of what he claimed was "secret diplomacy" by the government as "incomprehensible" and added that the "Turkish provocation can only be met with a firm deterrence policy backed by strong, well-trained armed forces and clearly defined 'red lines' that will not be crossed under no circumstances, as well as by national policies in Cyprus, the Aegean, the FYROM “name issue” and the rights of the ethnic Greeks in southern Albania."
Samaras underlined that ND is fighting to "restore the part of national sovereignty that was forfeited by the PASOK government when it signed the memorandum".
I have to underline that Samaras’ stance on this issue is one hundred percent honourable and correct. He was rightful in lashing out at the government. This is a very serious issue.
If our government does not want simple citizens such as myself to start believing that there is “secret diplomacy” going on here, as some reporters claim, then they have to be more clear on their position and intentions. Besides… it is there duty to inform us as a people on what is really going on in our country. The Aegean is not an object of their own, our ancestors fought for this land and we as people deserve to know everything that is occurring here.
What we do know, however, and are convinced of, is that there are unexplored natural oil reserves there.
No… I am not a geologist, but like I have repeated many times I have the memory of an elephant, and when you go through the news day by day and month by month then you will see that there is indeed something funny going on here.
I convinced of this because I remember the proposal made by US State Department’s Special Envoy for Eurasia and Energy Richard Morningstar last August on a trade agreement between Greece and Turkey and pooling of oil and natural gas reserves located in the Aegean Sea.
Several weeks before that statement, (or in May of last year), deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos claimed that there was “no oil in the Aegean Sea.” And then all of a sudden Greece declared that it would begin surveying the Aegean for hydrocarbons only several weeks later!
Just one lousy month after Pangalos’ statements!
And I ask dear friends, how can an average citizen even keep up with these people and all the lies they feed us, and how can we not think that there is something “smelly” occurring here when they keep on changing their stories everyday?
No… I am not a geologist, but like I have repeated many times I have the memory of an elephant, and when you go through the news day by day and month by month then you will see that there is indeed something funny going on here.
I convinced of this because I remember the proposal made by US State Department’s Special Envoy for Eurasia and Energy Richard Morningstar last August on a trade agreement between Greece and Turkey and pooling of oil and natural gas reserves located in the Aegean Sea.
Several weeks before that statement, (or in May of last year), deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos claimed that there was “no oil in the Aegean Sea.” And then all of a sudden Greece declared that it would begin surveying the Aegean for hydrocarbons only several weeks later!
Just one lousy month after Pangalos’ statements!
And I ask dear friends, how can an average citizen even keep up with these people and all the lies they feed us, and how can we not think that there is something “smelly” occurring here when they keep on changing their stories everyday?
Friends… Greece is experiencing the most difficult financial period in its history since WWII, and in this so called memorandum it has signed with the IMF and the EU there are two articles that specifically state that we have waved our national sovereignty. With such a huge debt on our shoulders, they have succeeded in making us weak players…. coincidence? I don't think so.
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