Image via WikipediaThe name of the game is oil exploration. The only lawful player is Greece, but Turkey is trying very had to join along in this poker match. The reward: Gold… Black Gold!
More revealing than ever and with sincerity that borders on cynicism, Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, transformed a so called “routine” visit in Athens over the past few days into a totally high-level diplomatic show.
With a tactful posture, he unfolded his “vision” to the Greek media on how he wants to make the Aegean, a sea of peace that “unites” Greece and Turkey.
With a tactful posture, he unfolded his “vision” to the Greek media on how he wants to make the Aegean, a sea of peace that “unites” Greece and Turkey.
In other words Turkey wants to "share" our sea!
Ti les re Ntalara?
In a move to claim ownership over the half of the Aegean Sea, Turkey has mounted a campaign of disputing the territorial rights in the area and creating grey zones for decades. Some may recall the issue of Imia, (search for relative story), that was one prime example.
The statement, which was made to the Kathimerini newspaper, was later polished or re-worded to sound more “tolerable”, at a joint press conference with the Deputy foreign minister of Greece, Dimitris Droutsas. After being pounded by the press about his statement, Davutoglu explained that Kastelorizo is indeed a Greek island and that’s not disputable, but what he was rather referring to was Kastellorizo’s geographic position.
What he really means is that Kastelorizo and the rest of the islands located around it are like a cluster of islands and therefore are isolated from the rest of the Dodecanese. This way, Ankara tries to argue that Kastelorizo, Stroggili and the other 11 small islands located in the same complex, are sitting on the Turkish shelf, and not the Greek.
Simply.... Ntalara is trying to tell us that the islands might be yours... but the water around the islands belongs to us.
Simply.... Ntalara is trying to tell us that the islands might be yours... but the water around the islands belongs to us.
The head of the Turkish diplomacy also said that his country is seeking a “different deal” on the establishment of the Greek and Turkish Mediterranean continental shelf, and not that of the delimitation of the continental shelf belonging to each of the two countries.
What “different deal”? Hasn’t this country heard of International Treaties? The Law of the Sea? Sovereign Rights?
Personally I believe that the government of George Papandreou is finally exposed to the overt confession of the head of Turkish diplomacy, and I am not alone, the whole nation is finally convinced of this. Trying to calm the climate, created by Mr. Davutoglu’s statements, Deputy Foreign Minister, Droutsas, underlined that for Greece, exploratory talks are aimed at delimiting the continental shelf from Evros to Kastelorizo, but this was just “fluff talk” since his Turkish counterpart was more revealing.
And I ask... why do I not trust what our minister said? Is it because I watch too many James Bond movies? Or is it because the Turkish delegation so freely spilled the beans?
Under international law, Kastelorizo Island is permitted to have an Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ. Obviously, Turkey knows this very well, and there is no room for diplomatic and legal moves here, unless violence is is implemented. In simple words, Turkey has openly threatened Greece that if it proceeds with its sovereign rights and extends its terrestrial waters as well as proclaims EEZ’s, then our two countries would go to WAR!
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras has expressed stern opposition to any thought of "co-exploitation" in the Aegean basin, while rejecting what he has termed discussions on the Aegean continental shelf issue from "ground zero". Samaras has already called for the establishment of an "exclusive economic zone (EEZ)" in Greece's extended sea regions, but is anyone listening?
Over the past month, Hellas Frappe has written many stories about how we believe “Greece’s fake bloated debt” surfaced on account of the “interests” that are hovering over this country in regards to its oil and natural reserves. We also featured numerous stories about the riches of our land and presented facts on why we why we are convinced that this whole “show” is because everyone is trying to get their hands on our “black gold”. I think our government is playing a dangerous game on this issue, and I do not want to even think what the repercussions such a development can have on the future of this beautiful country.
For over 600 years Turkey continues to bully our nation. If they do indeed succeed and cunningly get a chunk of these resources which belong to Greece, they will grow immensely in geopolitical terms. And I do not want to think what sort of consequences this will have on both Greece and Cyprus’ future.
In my opinion… 400 years of slavery and an almost complete genocide of our population is enough! We must never let them do this… and if they gear up and threaten us with war for claiming what is rightfully ours… well then bring it on we are game!
Posts
