Athens' response to Turkish provocations and the day after

The Turkish provocations with the reinstatement of the “gray zones” and the declaration of two marine parks in the Northeast Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the neighboring country’s reaction to Greece’s new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, have dynamized the climate in Greek-Turkish relations.

It is recalled that yesterday, during the weekly briefing of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the press spokesman, Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, referring to Greece’s Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, continued the provocative rhetoric about “gray zones”, noting, among other things:

“This specific regulation does not create any legal effect for our country and does not affect our position, including the geographical formations whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece through international treaties.”

He stressed that “Ankara remains determined to protect its rights, interests and aspirations in the Aegean Sea, within the framework of international law.”

This was preceded by the provocative announcement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Oncu Keçeli, who stated that “Greece’s plan, which includes the Aegean Sea, will not have, like other similar initiatives by Greece, any legal consequences for our country in the context of the interconnected Aegean issues between the two countries, including geographical formations whose ownership has not been transferred to Greece by international agreements.”

He also argued that unilateral actions in closed or semi-closed seas, such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean, should be avoided, while citing international maritime law, he notes that "Turkey maintains its position that a sincere and comprehensive approach should be adopted to resolve the problems."

Athens' response

Athens responded to the statement of the Foreign Ministry spokesman through a Foreign Ministry announcement regarding the new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, noting in a strict manner that "it includes a series of unfounded, absolutely unacceptable and rejectable allegations."

He notes that “the repetition for the second time in just twelve days, after the corresponding Turkish reaction to the Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism, of the same unfounded allegations demonstrates the insistence on revisionist positions, which have no legal basis”.

He also emphasizes that “the sovereignty regime in the Aegean is absolutely clear. Greek sovereignty is clearly and definitively defined by international contractual texts and cannot be questioned. Any other approach is contrary to International Law and will receive a corresponding reaction”.

“As long as we do not respond, Turkey perceives it as weakness”

In the wake of these developments, retired Lieutenant General Ioannis Baltzois, speaking to Mega, commented on the developments, emphasizing, among other things, that Turkey is practicing aggressive diplomacy.

"It applies military coercion and aggressive diplomacy. It sees that its target in this particular case, in Greece, does not react, does not create reactions that would make it stop. This is a very big disadvantage because others consider it as weakness. I estimate that it is not a weakness of Greece. It can react, as long as there is political will," he noted characteristically.

In this particular case, we understand that when we Turks do not respond, I repeat to you, they consider it weakness and go to the next step. So we must respond. Greece has weapons in its quiver, which are weapons that it takes from international law, from UNCLOS. UNCLOS is the treaty on the law of the sea. There are specific articles that say what you can do. So Greece should respond by closing the bays, by aligning the coasts and declaring an EEZ."

Mr. Baltzois noted that "attention is needed, the 'Blue Homeland' is just around the corner, which is truly a revisionist doctrine and we must denounce it."

The day after

The Turkish provocations and the attempt to question Greek sovereign rights, however, seem to belie the government's narrative about calm waters in the Aegean.

In this way, the climate of dialogue is being dynamited and now the "thorns" in Greek-Turkish relations the day after the provocations from Ankara are many.

In the diplomatic field, Athens is proceeding to inform its international partners and is now waiting to see if there will be a follow-up from Ankara.