Ankara: Trkiye on Friday criticized the inclusion of an updated Greek maritime spatial planning (MSP) map on the European Commission's MSP Platform, saying the map unlawfully overlaps with Turkish maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated on US social media company X that Trkiye is closely monitoring global efforts on maritime spatial planning. Keceli highlighted that Ankara announced its national MSP on April 16 and formally notified UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on June 12.

Keceli expressed concerns about the map uploaded to the EU platform, attributed to 'competent Greek authorities,' which he claims attempts to formalize maritime claims that contradict international law. He pointed out that the Greek MSP map violates Trkiye's maritime jurisdiction areas in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.

He further alleged that Greece is trying to exploit the MSP process to push its controversial maritime claims through EU channels. Keceli stated that Greece's efforts to have the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which it has not officially declared in the Eastern Mediterranean, accepted through the EU by instrumentalizing the MSP map is unlawful.

Keceli emphasized Trkiye's rejection of what he termed an unlawful fait accompli attempt. He recalled that Trkiye submitted its comprehensive legal position on the outer limits of its continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean to the UN on March 18, 2020.

He reiterated that the so-called EEZ depicted in the Greek MSP map in the Eastern Mediterranean falls within the Turkish continental shelf. Keceli concluded by underlining that any Greek effort to legitimize its EEZ claims or the outer limits of its continental shelf through such maps is destined to fail and constitutes unilateral steps contrary to international law.