Turkey declared two “national marine parks” in the North Eastern Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, which extend beyond Turkish territorial waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Greece stated in an announcement.

“To the extent that the parks in question cover high seas areas, their establishment is illegal, as no State is entitled, according to the Law of the Sea, to unilaterally establish marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, the marine parks in question are also illegal insofar as they extend within the Greek continental shelf. This is, therefore, an action that creates no legal effect whatsoever, either in respect of the high seas or in respect of Greece’s rights over its continental shelf.

(...).

Actions that attempt to create faits accomplis or to unilaterally affect the status of maritime zones in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean violate International Law, do not contribute to the consolidation of good-neighbourly relations and seriously undermine efforts to maintain relations of mutual understanding between the two countries.

Greece will continue to act consistently and decisively to protect its sovereign rights, safeguard the freedoms of the high seas as provided in the Law of the Sea, as well as to protect the marine environment in accordance with International Law," the Greek MFA announcement added, in particular.