Greece has the right and must immediately expand its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Eastern Mediterranean, as Turkey has already done in the same area, said the president of SYRIZA/Progressive Alliance. Alexis Tsipras.

In his taped message, broadcast at an event titled “Demarcation of Maritime Zones in the Eastern Mediterranean: Legal Issues and Challenges” held in Nicosia by the Cyprus and Greek Bar Associations, Mr. Tsipras characterized the expansion of territorial waters as its inalienable right based on international law, for which the right time to implement it, she said, is now.

It will be a double message, he characteristically noted: “On the one hand, the determination to defend what we are entitled to on the basis of international law, and at the same time the firm will to resolve the issue of delimitation of maritime zones on the basis of international law through dialogue and consultations “.

Mr. Tsipras mentioned the importance of observing the basic principles of international law, respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, non-use of violence, the principle of good neighborliness: “And how dangerous their violation can be. A violation that the Cypriot people have been experiencing in the same way for 48 years with the illegal invasion and occupation by Turkey. However, today in our region, in the Eastern Mediterranean, the escalation of Turkish aggression against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus gives rise to new fears of new violations of the principles of international law, as well as new tensions. And this requires immediate preventive action and clear signals from the international community, our allies and especially the EU, action, not abstract or sluggish statements. It requires the diplomatic and defense support of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus in the fight against aviation violations, illegal mining and exploration, and against the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum. It demands that Turkish violations have consequences in the form of tough targeted sanctions and, of course, in the form of the suspension of arms sales,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition Officer referred to the prevention of new crises through peace and diplomacy, as well as through dialogue, as well as the resolution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of UN decisions for the benefit of all Cypriots, without guarantees and occupation. troops, in resolving a two-zone bi-communal federation with political equality, one sovereignty, one international legal personality and one citizenship. He then spoke about the pacific settlement of disputes under the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Greece and Cyprus can and should pursue the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf with all neighboring countries of the Eastern Mediterranean,” he concluded, stressing the need to seek and pressure Turkey to sit at the negotiating table of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean: A table that a new an impetus to Greek-Turkish relations and negotiations on the Cyprus issue. And in this context, pave the way for new Euro-Turkish relations. A table that may include various individual negotiation schemes and compositions, but must be based on respect for the principles of the law of the sea and existing jurisprudence.”