Foreign Ministry spokesman’s response to a question regarding the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman’s statements on the Piri Reis
Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras made the following comment on today’s statements from the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s representative regarding the movements of the Piri Reis:
“The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s announcement reiterates Ankara’s claims and positions, which are far from the provisions of international law and international practice.
Our country’s continental shelf rights exist, as is well known, ab initio and ipso facto, while notification of the coastal state – namely, Greece – of maritime scientific research in waters over the Greek continental shelf is requested in accordance with the international Law of the Sea and international practice, in order to ensure respect for those sovereign rights.
Our positions are firm and based on international law, and specifically the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our longstanding position on the delimitation of the continental shelf with Turkey is consistent and does not admit of arbitrary interpretations.
We continue to maintain a constructive stance on the improvement of our bilateral relations, within the framework of respect for international law and national sovereignty.”
March 24, 2012