Turkiye has strongly criticized the conclusions of the European Union Leaders’ Summit, accusing Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) of pursuing “unlawful and maximalist claims” regarding maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, reads a Daily Sabah post.
In a statement posted on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the summit’s results prove that both Greece and the GCASC continue their attempts to impose these positions on the EU, disregarding international legal standards and the principle of equity.
“The outcomes of the June 26 EU Summit show that Greece and the GCASC are persisting with maximalist demands that are contrary to international law,” Keçeli wrote. “These efforts lack legal validity and are fundamentally unjust.”
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s position on the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding signed with Libya, which delineates maritime jurisdictions in the region. Keçeli described the agreement as “entirely legitimate under international law” and a reflection of Türkiye’s commitment to protecting its legal rights.
Keçeli also denounced the EU for making “politically motivated and biased” statements on a complex legal issue such as maritime delimitation, urging the bloc to avoid endorsing unsubstantiated claims.
“Instead of promoting legally groundless narratives,” he said, “the EU should encourage all member states to comply with international legal norms.”
He emphasized that Türkiye will continue to assert and defend its legitimate maritime interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, in full accordance with international law.
The longstanding maritime dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean, which involves overlapping claims between Türkiye, Greece, and the GCASC, remains a flashpoint in regional diplomacy, with Ankara consistently rejecting unilateral moves that exclude Turkish and Turkish Cypriot interests.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
