Turkey has designated two new areas as “National Marine Parks” through presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette on Sunday. The Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah presented the move as a reaffirmation of what Ankara considers its maritime rights in the Aegean.
Two new protected areas
According to Daily Sabah, one park covers an area between Fethiye in Muğla province and Kaş in Antalya, while the second lies in the northern Aegean, near Tekirdağ and the Dardanelles.
The newspaper described the decisions as a reaffirmation of Ankara’s maritime rights in the Aegean.
Greek initiatives and Turkish objections
Daily Sabah linked the designations directly to Greek-Turkish disputes over maritime jurisdiction, pointing to Greece’s initiatives for marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the southern Cyclades, as well as Ankara’s objections.
The Turkish side argues that environmental initiatives in the Aegean should not be used to alter the existing status of maritime jurisdiction zones.
‘Blue Homeland’ bill due for debate
The report also placed the new designations within Turkey’s so-called “Blue Homeland” strategy.
A draft law relating to “Blue Homeland” is expected to be debated in the Turkish Grand National Assembly when the new parliamentary term begins in October, according to the newspaper.
Source: CNA.
