Washington forum examines Turkey's claims to the Eastern Mediterranean

"Turkey's Claims to the Eastern Mediterranean: Myth & Reality" was the topic of a presentation by Professor Theodore Kariotis, an expert on maritime law and issues pertaining to exclusive economic zones (EEZ), at a recent forum hosted by the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) in Washington.

"[Kariotis's] insight into Turkey's mythical claims to Cyprus's EEZ and Greek islands once again proves the real and substantial threat to territorial sovereignty that US allies face every day," AHI President Nick Larigakis said.

Below is a summary of Kariotis's presentation:

Starting with the dispute over the delimitation of the continental shelf (1973) and the crisis that followed, Turkey started to implement the policy of constantly increasing contentions and claims against Greece, including: contesting Greece's legal right, on threat of war (casus belli), to extend...