No deal on Aegean borders, Turkish PM says
 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. AA photo |
Reports in the Greek media that Turkey had agreed to allow Greece to expand its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea were denied Monday by the Turkish prime minister.
“There is nothing like an agreement that has been reached on the 12 miles [issue]. The talks are still underway with Greece,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters Monday.
The Greek newspaper To Vima had reported that an agreement was reached between Turkey and Greece, with Ankara accepting that Greece would expand its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea from six nautical miles to 12.
Such an agreement is out of the question at the moment and, if one were ever to be reached, would be announced in a joint statement by both parties, Erdoğan said. “Authorized people continue with talks,” he added. “We will make a necessary statement if they reach a specific point.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Monday, however, that there had been progress in talks concerning the territorial-waters dispute.
Turkey and Greece have achieved progress in good faith during exploratory talks on the issue, Davutoğlu told reporters Monday in response to a question, noting that the talks between Turkey and Greece are confidential. “It’s not appropriate to go into details on the issue. We give importance to continuing the talks in good faith and determination,” he said.
Citing an international maritime agreement, Greece claims its territorial waters should be extended to 12 nautical miles from the current six miles. Turkey has not signed the agreement in question and has thus far refused to accept the Greek claim. ........more see:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-premier-conditions-reciprocity-principle-to-open-ports-to-greek-cypriots-2010-11-22
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