“Turkey’s unprecedented belief that it can threaten neighbouring countries with the use of force when they exercise their legal rights is contrary to contemporary political culture and also the fundamental provisions of international law,” the foreign ministry said in an announcement on Saturday, in response to statements by Turkey’s vice president.
“We call on Turkey to understand that international law and the values on which the modern world order was built are binding for all the world’s countries,” the ministry said, adding: “It cannot be implemented selectively and it is the responsibility of the international community to defend them since their violation spells the greatest dangers.”
“Turkey is bound by Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter, among others. If it has a different view, let it say so explicitly,” it said.
“In any case, we remind [Turkey] that the exercise of Greece’s sovereign rights is not subject to any form of Turkish veto,” the foreign ministry announcement concluded.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said earlier that “Greece wants to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles. If this is not a reason for war, then what is?” he wondered.
As reported by protothema.gr, Oktay also sent a message to Europe: “Do not expect Ankara to retreat” and “We will not give up our rights in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.”
He stressed that Turkey will protect, in every way, its rights to every cubic meter of water in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Turkey expects impartiality from the EU, no one should expect Ankara to back down from this impartiality,” he added.
