Ankara dismisses Greece's tourism framework as legally void

Türkiye's Foreign Ministry on Friday dismissed Greece's newly announced Special Spatial Framework for Tourism as devoid of legal consequence for Ankara, asserting that the plan encroaches upon geographical formations whose sovereignty has never been transferred to Athens under international treaty obligations.

'Futile' bid to exploit environmental concerns

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated on the US social media platform X that "We once again emphasize that attempts to instrumentalize universal values such as environmental protection for political purposes are futile and will in no way affect our country's established legal position." He noted that the framework encompasses geographical formations whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece under international treaties, according to Anadolu Agency.

Call for cooperation in enclosed seas

Keceli stressed that unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean. "International maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states in such seas, including on environmental issues," he said, recalling that Türkiye is one of the two littoral states of the Aegean Sea and remains ready to cooperate with Athens.

The spokesperson reaffirmed Ankara's commitment to the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighbourliness signed on Dec. 7, 2023, saying Türkiye continues to advocate a sincere and comprehensive approach to resolving bilateral issues on the basis of international law, equity and good-neighborly relations. The declaration had pledged to resolve disputes through dialogue amid ongoing tensions over maritime boundaries.