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Provocative acts by Turkey…What is next?

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By Elena Andreou, Program in International Law, Junior Scholar

All opinions and statements made reflect solely, the author. They do not reflect nor represent any govenrments or any organizations. They do reflect the policy opinions of Strategy International.

Looking back in the history of International law as regards the Law of the Sea, we can notice that territorial seas and their profits were free to be used and enjoyed by all States. However, this fact has been changed through the pass of the time.

In 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) resulted from the third (3^rd) United Nations Conference defining fundamental rights and responsibilities of States in their use of the world's oceans, establishing in advance guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.

At the present, European Community and other 162 countries have joined in the UNCLOS. Nevertheless, several countries have not signed or ratified the UNCLOS, including Turkey. The reason for this refusal stands on Turkish interests in Mediterranean Sea and Aegean.

The UNCLOS was ratified by the European Union, on 10th of December 1998, and therefore constitutes a part of the Acquis Communautaire[1]. All the countries, including Turkey, are obliged to put into practice the Acquis Communautaire for EU accession.

Turkey claims 6 nautical miles (this amounts 11 km) in the Aegean Sea and 12 nautical miles (amounts 22 km) in the Black Sea. What is next?

After recent events in Cyprus, where oil and gas will be unearth by specialists on the area, Turkey inflames their relations with Cyprus by shipping and flying on a daily basis over the territorial zone that is not allowed to.

Turkey always acts provocative, with the intention to bring panic and fear in Aegean. By questioning the Cyprus sovereign rights constitutes a violation of Turkey’s obligation, as a member of the United Nations, to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, including the state of Cyprus. This approach and behavior by the side of Turkish influences negatively the efforts of achieving and concluding to a solution on the Cyprus issue.

Repeatedly Greece and Cyprus have being victims of the violation of the UNCLOS and further international rules. On the other side, Greece and Cyprus are just standing on their dormancy, keeping their European behavior and waiting to see what is next..

Written by Andreou Eleni