Constantinople, Manolis Kostidis

The Minister of Defense of Turkey, Yasar Güler, launched a new harsh attack against Greece with provocative statements. According to the ANKA agency, Guler claims that Greece is violating the Berne Protocol in the Aegean and is investigating Turkey’s potential continental shelf in the region. At the same time, he stated that “the deployment of military elements by the US in Alexandroupolis affects the strategic balances in the region and directly concerns Turkey’s security policies.”

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, due to the maximalist and illegal demands of Greece and the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus’, there are a number of disputes over the area of ​​maritime jurisdiction. Our country is carrying out various initiatives both on the field and at the diplomatic level, in order to protect its rights, interests and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.With the maritime jurisdiction agreements we signed with ‘TRNC’ in 2011 and with Libya in 2019, as well as with our continental shelf that we declared at the United Nations on March 18, 2020, we have shown our decisive stance that we are one of the most important actors in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the field, preventing unauthorized activities directed toward our continental shelf.” Guler said.

Turkey’s Defense Minister went on to say:

“Most recently, this July, the Italian ship Ievoli Relume’s cable-laying research activity on our continental shelf was blocked by the deterrent attitude of our elements in the area, and finally the Italian ship was able to carry out its activities after saying ‘Yes, I accept our your area of ​​responsibility. May I have your permission?’

With this, we have shown that no project activity can take place in the Eastern Mediterranean without our country’s permission. As you know, the ISPED (East Med) project is a project that has remained on paper. It is one of the most important proofs of our country’s decisive attitude.”

“It is known from our side which bases the USA uses in Greece”

Guler, in the same provocative style, talks about fait accompli that Greece is attempting, invokes international law and declares that “we know the US presence in Greece and what bases they use in Greece.”

“The Ministry of National Defense, as in other matters in the Aegean, works in close coordination with all the relevant Ministries and agencies and especially with the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respecting our national rights and interests and fully fulfilling the its tasks. In the fait accompli that Greece is attempting with the exploitation of the problematic areas in the Aegean, which should be resolved in accordance with international law and the principle of equality between countries which have priority, the necessary answers are given by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the field of diplomacy and by the Ministry of National Defense without wasting time.” he said characteristically.

As he said, “recently, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the necessary diplomatic initiatives to the Greek authorities regarding the research activities that the Greek side tried to carry out without permission
on our potential continental shelf in the Aegean, in violation of the Berne Protocol between the two countries in 1976 and
international law, and in the field, the Naval Forces Command and the Coast Guard Command took action.
The necessary answers were given.”

And he concluded by saying: “On the other hand, we closely monitor all developments in our region, including the US military presence in Alexandroupoli, in terms of our country’s defense and security, and assess their impact on our country. In this context, we know the US presence in Greece and what bases they use in Greece. The deployment of military elements by the US in Alexandroupoli affects the strategic balances in the region and directly concerns Turkey’s security policies.”