Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said the “Special Tourism Regional Framework” announced by Greece would have no legal effect for Türkiye.
In a statement on X, Keçeli said the framework covered the Aegean Sea as well as geographical formations whose sovereignty was not transferred to Greece under international treaties. He said the regulation would have no legal effect for Türkiye regarding the interconnected Aegean issues between the two countries.
Objection to using environmental protection for political purposes
Keçeli said attempts to turn universal values such as environmental protection into tools for political purposes would produce no results and would not affect Türkiye’s established legal position.
Keçeli said unilateral steps should be avoided in closed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and Mediterranean. He noted that international maritime law encourages cooperation among the states bordering these seas, including on environmental protection.
Türkiye signals readiness to cooperate
Keçeli said Türkiye, as one of the two states bordering the Aegean Sea, was always ready to cooperate with Greece.
Keçeli said Türkiye was acting in line with the December 7, 2023 Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighbourliness. He added that Türkiye’s position remained unchanged: the issues should be resolved through a sincere and comprehensive approach based on international law, equity and the principles of good neighbourliness.