This discussion paper aims to analyse the positions of both Greece and Turkey, as well as the Greek-Cypriot Administration, on the maritime delimitation issue by examining international agreements, current natural resource exploitation practices and historic case studies from international courts.
The East Mediterranean continues to be at the forefront of the global agenda. Recent hydrocarbon discoveries in the region have brought long-standing maritime delimitation questions back into the international spotlight and onto the priority lists of the countries concerned. Turkey, one of the most important actors in the region, has made efforts to solve the delimitation issue and provide counter-arguments to those made by Greece and Greek Administered Cyprus over disputes regarding the potential boundaries of their respective Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Turkish priorities also include safeguarding the interests of the inhabitants of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the solving of the delimitation issue on the basis of international law and the equity principle. This discussion paper aims to analyse the positions of both Greece and Turkey, as well as the Greek-Cypriot Administration, on the maritime delimitation issue by examining international agreements, current natural resource exploitation practices and historic case studies from international courts. Additionally, the paper offers insight into what Ankara can do to strengthen its position.
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