54357 - The EEZ Establishment and the Expansion of the Coastal Zone

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Athina Kehagias

Turkey in 1995 set a Casus Belli argument, so that Greece may not extend her Coastal Zone, as right then she had ratified the Montego Bay Law of the Sea Agreement, which she had signed back in 1982.
Ever since then, Greece has never made that move.
But in the intervening period, following the discovery of the Aphrodite reserve in 2011, Greece began to realize that the Greek EEZ obtained more and more importance.
After all, Turkey never included the EEZ in the event of war scenario.
This fact is important for the continuity.
Additionally, the EEZ establishment occurs unilaterally as per the context of the Law of the Sea.
We have partitioned marine regions, we have signed delimitations, we have signed contracts with oil companies deriving from countries which obtain strong strategy and military power.
We know that the expansion of the coastal zone is total and of course not partial.
In fact, according to Turkey, the Casus Belli applies in any case whatsoever.
Consequently, we believe that we ought to firstly establish the Greek EEZ, as Cyprus did back in 2004, and there after, as we would have enhanced our position and that without any risk, then we will move on to the issue of the entire expansion of the coastal zone.
This mental scheme is more resistant to possible attacks and irrational provocations by Turkey, because it functions as a catalyst in coordination with our alliances.