The said statement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece is unfortunate and misleading.

At the core of the Eastern Mediterranean issue lies the maximalist maritime jurisdiction area claims of the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo as well as the disregard of the Turkish Cypriots and their rights as the co-owners of the Island by both Greece and the EU.

The attempts to legitimize such claims through the EU and maps published within this union carry no legal value whatsoever.

The maritime jurisdiction area claims brought forward by Greece as if she was an archipelagic state, disregarding the principle of just and equitable delimitation, which is the primary rule in maritime boundary delimitation, are indeed the violation of international law. The most striking exhibit of this, as referred to in our previous statements, is the island of Kastellorizo/Megisti.

Turkey will continue to keep the diplomacy and cooperation channels open while protecting with determination both its own rights and those of Turkish Cypriots.