Clarification on EEZ map

Submitted by HamiltonA (United States), Feb 9, 2012 at 19:55

"The top map shows the Greece claiming its full 200-nautical mile EEZ and controlling Kastelorizo EEZ (indicated by the red arrow); the bottom one shows the Greek EEZ minus Kastelorizo (indicated by the white arrow)."

The first statement is correct. The second statement, and the title of the map (in Greek), is what Turkey claims. It is not Turkey's EEZ minus Kastelorizo. This delimitation by Turkey has no basis in international law. One can see that even the large Greek islands on the west, Karpathos and Rhodes, are only afforded an EEZ equal to their maritime limit and I'm not sure what is going on in the west of Cyprus. The principle of median lines for overlapping EEZs is not followed as is customary law.

Ignoring Kastelorizo and applying the Law of the Sea principles for EEZ delimitation, Turkeys EEZ would extend in a triangle touching Egypt's EEZ and separating the EEZ of Greece and Cyprus. The area of this 'extra' EEZ is only about a quarter of what Turkey claims in the bottom map. The Turkish claim is very telling of their intentions: apply international law only as it suits Turkey, e.g. its EEZ delimitation in the Black Sea, otherwise apply it arbitrarily, trample international law, and threaten those countries that attempt to apply it to their seas legally.

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