Overlapping sea doctrins of Turks and Greeks at the East Mediterranean

What are the claims of Turks and Greeks at the East Mediterranean? But before that, let us explain what is continental shelf and exclusive economic zone for a country?

What is Continental Shelf?

According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in 1994, the continental shelf that borders a country’s shoreline is considered to be a continuation of the country’s land territory.

Coastal countries have exclusive rights to resources located within the continental shelf, which legally is defined as the seabed up to roughly 370 km (200 nautical miles) from shore or to the outer edge of the continental margin, whichever is farther, subject to an overall limit of about 650 km (350 nautical miles) from the coast or about 185 km (100 nautical miles) beyond the 2,500-metre (8,200-foot) isobath, or line connecting equal points of water depth.

What is Exclusive Economic Zone?

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a concept adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982), whereby a coastal State assumes jurisdiction over the exploration and exploitation of marine resources in its adjacent section of the continental shelf, taken to be a band extending 200 miles from the shore.

The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, subject to the specific legal regime established in this Part, under which the rights and jurisdiction of the coastal State and the rights and freedoms of other States are governed by the relevant provisions of this Convention.

Greek Sea Doctrine at the East Mediterranean

Greeks say: "My islands are extensions of my main land. They are extending my Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones.

Luckily, I have Mais island in the East Mediterranean. All the sea regions at the south of the Meis island are belong to me.

By the way, French government is supporting my sea doctrine!"

Turk Sea Doctrine at the East Mediterranean

Turks say: "Hey komshu, are you insane? Have you ever heard about International Maritime Laws? Exclusive Economic Zones are determined by main lands and I have the longest coastlines on the Mediterranean.

Do not be fooled by French diplomats. Otherwise, the sovereign right of the Meis island can be suddenly changed by a group of Turkish students from Paris."