Turkey’s Defense Ministry on Thursday reiterated Ankara’s claims of “gray zones” in the Aegean Sea, in response to Greece’s new spatial planning framework for renewable energy projects.

In a statement, the ministry said the Greek plan, which took effect Wednesday following a ministerial decision by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, would have “no legal consequences” for Turkey and would not affect Ankara’s position.

Echoing comments made by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said the plan included geographical features “whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece through international agreements.”

The Defense Ministry said Thursday that Turkey remains determined to protect its “rights, interests and concerns in the Aegean Sea” under international law.

The latest exchange comes days after Turkey published two controversial presidential decrees establishing marine parks in the northern Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

The developments mark a further departure from the period of relatively calm Greek-Turkish relations and the spirit of the Athens Declaration signed by the two countries.

Source: Ekathimerini.com