Just days after meeting with his Greek counterpart in Athens, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Turkey's disputes with Greece extend beyond maritime boundaries—specifically the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones (EEZ)—to include broader issues, such as the “demilitarization” of Greek islands.
“We face multiple challenges in the Aegean; it's not just one issue. We need to address them all,” he stated in an interview with Turkish TV channel A Haber.
Fidan outlined these challenges, including “the ongoing militarization of the islands, which must be demilitarized, as well as issues related to the continental shelf, territorial waters, unclear status formations, airspace, and the EEZ.”
Greece argues that matters of sovereignty are non-negotiable and should not be part of bilateral discussions. The Greek government remains committed to addressing only the continental shelf and EEZ disputes through international jurisdiction