Response to his provocative statements Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler sources of the Greek Ministry of Defense give, stressing that “Greece remains committed to International Law and the International Law of the Sea, having signed the relevant international convention (UNCLOS).

The same sources also emphasized that “positions that contradict International Law do not contribute to the consolidation of a climate of mutual trust and the improvement of bilateral relations.

In any case, the Greek Armed Forces are the guarantor of our national sovereignty and sovereign rights, as determined by the rules of the international legal order.”

Challenges from Guler

In his statements yesterday, the Turkish Minister of Defense argued that Greece violates the Bern Protocol in the Aegean and is doing research on the “potential continental shelf of Turkey”.

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”.

“The agreements with the TRNC and Libya defined our continental shelf”

He spoke of “maximalist and illegal demands of Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration of South Cyprus‘” in the Eastern Mediterranean region, noting:

“Our country is taking various initiatives both on the ground 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 the TRNC in 2011 and with Libya in 2019, as well as our continental shelf declared at the United Nations on March 18, 2020, we have shown our determination to be one of the major factors in the Eastern Mediterranean. We also show this decisive attitude in the field, preventing unauthorized activities that are directed towards our continental shelf”.

“The Italian ship got permission from us”

He also said that in July the Italian ship received permission from Ankara to lay cables: “Lastly, this July, the cable laying research activity of the Italian ship Ievoli Relume on our continental shelf was hindered by the deterrent attitude of our elements in the area and in finally the Italian ship was able to carry out its activities after saying ‘Yes, I accept your own area of ​​responsibility. Do you allow me, do 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 the decisive attitude of our country”.

Guler, in the same provocative style, spoke of fait accompli that Greece is attempting in the “problematic areas” in the Aegean, invoked international law and declared 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 his duties. The fait accompli that Greece is attempting by exploiting the problem areas in the Aegean, which should be resolved in accordance with international law and the principle of equality between our countries which have priority, are given the necessary answers by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs in field of diplomacy and from the Ministry of National Defense without wasting time,” he said characteristically.

“Breach of the Berne Protocol”

As he said, “lately, 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 two countries in 1976 and international law, and in the field, the Naval Forces Command and the Coast Guard Command took action necessary answers.”

And he concluded by saying: “On the other hand, we are closely monitoring all developments in our region, including the US military presence in Alexandroupoli, in terms of our country’s defense and security, and we are assessing 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 Alexandroupolis affects the strategic balances in the region and directly concerns Turkey’s security policies.”