Exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey resume on Monday

January 25, 2021
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

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Exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey resume on Monday

Exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey will resume on Monday in Istanbul, after almost five years. Both sides will try to find points of convergence for possible future negotiations regarding the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, based on international law.

The Greek side has repeatedly stressed that it will not discuss the demilitarisation of the islands.

Greece will not negotiate any issue that concerns national sovereignty. The country's position is in line with international maritime law. The decision to expand territorial waters is a sovereign right of the country. It has made it clear that it retains in full the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles anywhere and at any time.

Greece has clearly stated that it is coming to the 61st round of exploratory contacts with confidence, in good faith, a spirit of cooperation, a constructive climate and the hope that the talks will lead to de-escalation and that the Turkish side will come in a similar spirit.

The two delegations will continue the discussions held during the 60th round of exploratory contacts in Athens on March 1, 2016.

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