Turkey has voiced opposition to Greece's proposal for establishing a new marine park in the Aegean Sea, raising concerns about the nation's sovereignty over islands in the area.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry urged Greece to refrain from incorporating disputed Aegean issues and unresolved sovereignty matters of certain islands, islets, and rocks into its agenda.
"We will not recognise any unilateral actions taken by Greece concerning territories whose status is contested," the statement emphasised.
Additionally, Turkey cautioned third-party entities, including the EU, against endorsing Greece's environmental initiatives, characterising them as politically driven endeavors.
The move comes amid reports that Greece is preparing to unveil plans for two marine parks—one in the Ionian Sea and another in the Aegean Sea—prior to the 9th Our Ocean Conference scheduled in Greece from April 15 to 17.
The proposed marine parks aim to protect the biodiversity of various island groups, including the "Greek Galapagos" archipelago, renowned for its ecological richness, and a designated area extending from Kefalonia to Kythera and Antikythera.
