Ankara: Greece's unilateral actions and claims on maritime spatial planning will have no legal consequences for Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday. Trkiye's response follows Greece's declaration of Maritime Spatial Planning within the EU framework.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized that the areas specified in Greece's 'Maritime Spatial Plan' infringe on Trkiye's maritime jurisdiction in both the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. The ministry highlighted the importance of avoiding unilateral actions in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean, noting that international maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states in these regions, including on environmental matters.

Trkiye expressed openness to collaborating with Greece in the Aegean Sea, underscoring that previous attempts of unilateral actions and fait accompli would not have legal consequences for Trkiye now or in the future. Ankara maintains that issues should be tackled through a genuine and inclusive approach rooted in international law, equity, and good neighborly relations, in line with the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness, signed on December 7, 2023. This declaration reflects the mutual intent to foster positive relations between Trkiye and Greece.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also announced that Trkiye plans to submit its own Maritime Spatial Plan to UNESCO and the relevant United Nations bodies.