Turkey says it was not asked for permission for surveys by the French vessel VB Abeille Marengo, which concern seabed mapping for the laying of an undersea cable in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek diplomatic sources respond that the work will proceed according to the company’s operational schedule and that the international law of the sea is clear.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry says that a French-flagged vessel intends to conduct marine scientific research within the continental shelf that Turkey considers its own. The statement says the outer limits of this continental shelf were notified to the United Nations on 18 March 2020.
Ankara also says that the notices to mariners issued by Greece and the Republic of Cyprus for this purpose were “unauthorised” and that Turkey cancelled them.
International law
The statement adds that the approval process by Turkey has not been completed. It says that approval is required under customary rules of international law of the sea for the part of the planned activity that lies within the limits of its continental shelf.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry says the country is absolutely determined to protect its sovereign rights under international law and will continue to pursue an approach in the region based on cooperation, dialogue and coordination.
In response, Greek diplomatic sources said the work of the VB Abeille Marengo would proceed according to the company’s operational schedule, in Greek and Cypriot territorial waters and in areas of the Greek and Cypriot continental shelves. “The international law of the sea is clear and allows for no different interpretations,” they said.
Source: CNA
