GEOPOLITICS
Hulusi Akar says Turkish soldiers could swim to Kastellorizo
Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and former Defense Minister Hulusi Akar suggested that Turkish soldiers might one day swim to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, during a conference at Bursa Technical University on Friday.
After emphasizing that Turkey is a maritime nation with a 12,000-kilometer coastline, Akar stated that Turkey is determined to exercise its maritime rights.
“We have not retreated, and we will not retreat. No one should doubt that. Kastellorizo is right across from us. In a way, this was historically bypassed and ended up belonging to the Greeks,” said Akar, adding that Kastellorizo is within swimming distance for Turkish soldiers.
“The distance between Kastellorizo and Turkey is 1,950 meters. Our cadets in our military academies can swim 2 kilometers. Therefore, the island is within swimming distance. Our Greek friends said, ‘Then swim.’ We replied, ‘God willing, the day will come when we will.”
Furthermore, Akar stated that Turkey will not accept Kastellorizo being granted an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“They (Greece) demand 40,000 square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction due to this island. We will never accept this,” he emphasized.
The Greek island of Kastellorizo, located 1.95 kilometers off the Turkish coast, has been a focal point in Greek-Turkish maritime disputes. The contention centers on whether Kastellorizo is entitled to an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a continental shelf. Greece asserts that, under international law, the island qualifies for these maritime rights.
Source: Ekathimerini.com
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