The immediate response of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the announcement, on behalf of Ankara, of a new illegal search and rescue area.
"This move adds to the long list of Turkish arbitrariness and illegal claims in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean," he said, adding that Turkish actions "will once again run counter to the international legitimacy with which Turkey must finally reconcile." ».
The Foreign Ministry's reaction comes just hours after the publication of a new map, with which Ankara expands its already illegally marked search and rescue area.
The added area is shown in purple on the map.
At the same time, according to information, "Oruts Reyes" is getting closer and closer to Kastellorizo.
The controversial map was posted by Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, accompanied by the following message:
"Greetings to Fatih, Yavuz and Kanuni. In our Blue Homeland, we have expanded the search and rescue area to include the areas where our research vessels operate. The new search and rescue plan is caloric ".
Greetings to Fatih, Yavuz, KanuniIn our #MaviVatanızda In the field of peace and tranquility, the activity of the national ships in the Eastern Mediterranean, in the form of captivity in the rest of the world, is broad.
Welcome to our New Looking and Settlement Plan. pic.twitter.com/EkDqxZaY1c
- Adil Karaismailoğlu (@akaraismailoglu) October 17, 2020
The answer of the Greek Foreign Minister in detail:
"The Turkish area of responsibility for search and rescue, which was arbitrarily defined by the new Turkish law, as well as the one defined by the Turkish law of 1988, is illegal insofar as it covers areas of Greek sovereignty and jurisdiction, therefore does not produce legal results. Beyond that, however, it is not based on operational criteria and does not serve the safety purposes of human life.
The Greek area of responsibility, which has been defined in the 50s by ICAO Regional Air Navigation Agreements and declared since 1975 to the competent International Maritime Organization (IMO), coincides with the Athens FIR and is in line with the IMO and ICO recommendations. as included in the International Aeronautical and Naval Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR Manual). It is emphasized that in practice, Greece, through the competent Greek Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Piraeus, effectively coordinates all search and rescue operations in its area of responsibility, providing services in this case to all those at risk. ships and planes.
It is clear that Turkey, with this latest move that has purely political motives, does not hesitate to cause confusion, endangering human lives. This move is added to the long list of Turkish arbitrariness and illegal claims in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, which are also responsible for the unprecedented escalation of the last period. "Turkish actions will once again run counter to the international legitimacy with which Turkey must finally reconcile."
Source: Kathimerini.gr