Greece’s exploratory talks with Turkey usually are not a dialogue for the sake of dialogue. It’s a structured debate wherein each side make investments for a sequence of achievements. Greece’s goal, so far as exploratory talks are involved, has at all times been:
a. The matter into account is the unique financial zone and the continental shelf.
b. If no settlement is reached, the problem will likely be referred to a world tribunal, ideally the Hague.
Subsequently, the politicians searching for to downplay the position and the significance of the exploratory contacts ought to recall the objectives of diplomacy, until they produce other – secret – goals than these talked about. Doable concessions and pressures to the Republic of Cyprus.
The intention is an settlement with Turkey on these points. I don’t assume that is possible now, until there will likely be concessions with out ideas. In fact, alternatively, the nation should attempt to obtain the essence of the exploratory talks, by setting circumstances, “crimson strains,” and by precisely informing the worldwide neighborhood. If, and so long as, exploratory talks proceed, the intention should be to have well timed set basic methods. The at the start objective, inside this course of, underneath the present circumstances, should be to get Turkey to accede and signal the UNCLOS. In any other case, on what foundation will we severely talk about something with out each events agreeing to the position of the Regulation of the Sea?
A part of the settlement with Turkey ought to be that, if the method of formulating an arbitration settlement referral to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice is taken into account, on the identical time, within the processing of this settlement, the second objective should be set: The lifting of the casus belli by the Turkish Nationwide Meeting. Its solely existence is provocative, however with the arbitration settlement, it turns into out of date even for the Turkish argumentation.
The federal government ought to be significantly cautious to not repeat its earlier errors concerning the maritime zones. That’s, dropping sight of the logical and authorized order of issues. It ought to be reminded right here that if one chooses the arbitration settlement and appeals to a world court docket, one is not going to then be entitled to increase one’s territorial waters as offered by the rights enshrined in worldwide regulation. The danger is that the court docket will take note of within the delimitation of the EEZ between each side, the doubtless Greek territorial waters from 6 to 12 miles, plus the bays. Subsequently, the third objective should be the well timed preparation of the maritime zones that give sovereignty over “non-dry land,” and of the required presidential decrees. Comparable care is required in making ready the maps supporting the proposal for the EEZ and the continental shelf if they need to be submitted to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice, because the court docket will obtain comparable maps from Turkey, wherein the Turkish EEZ will illegally seem to incorporate territories at the moment characterised as “grey zones.”
The correct preparation for the popularity of the worldwide regulation by Turkey, the lifting of casus belli and the maps, and a correct use of worldwide regulation facilitates the underneath investigation resolution. On the identical time, these three components are highly effective weapons in each part in case the exploratory contacts don’t succeed and the method results in a “blame recreation.”
The fourth goal is the good significance Greece should give to the preparation of exploratory contacts. That means:
a. Greece should take it severely. Diplomacy can not proceed to be a sort of authorities present, the place all of the negotiation components parade in public view. By no means within the earlier 60 rounds did we now have such a present that objectively opposes the requirement to deal with diplomacy as a really severe matter, that’s, with calm and persistence. The federal government should cease placing weight on the communication recreation as an alternative of the substance. The one clarification for this communication obsession is that it desires to disorient and obscure attainable concessions.
b. The Greek authorities shouldn’t, probably on account of its insecurity and its hidden agenda, enable Turkey to make worldwide propaganda. It’s inconceivable to not even reply to Cavusoglu’s assertion of January 12, 2021, based on which Greece was compelled to go to exploratory contacts underneath German strain. Nor failing to elucidate to the worldwide neighborhood Turkish views – provocations concerning “grey zones” or for the demilitarization of its islands, regardless of the occupation of Cyprus and the provocations at Imia islets. Turkey has no authority to make such calls for, as a result of it’s not a part of the Paris Settlement of 1946 and since with the amendments of the Montreux Treaty it has no authorized foundation for such claims. The Greek authorities should clarify all this with persistence and perseverance. And in addition clarify that Worldwide Protection Regulation precedes every particular person worldwide settlement.
c. The nation should be effectively ready for exploratory contacts. The ministry has dozens of research on the matter, made by extremely certified home and overseas consultants. Allow us to make good use of them. There may be additionally a necessity for Greek views to be offered extra systematically and successfully within the worldwide scientific press and to make higher use of the publications studied by judges and their collaborators.
d. The nation can not go to a gathering with a smaller delegation than Turkey. Equality in negotiations should exist in all areas. Additionally, it doesn’t make a very good impression that the Greek delegation for the primary time after 60 conferences didn’t embrace a single professional in worldwide regulation or that considered one of its members is inexperienced, and does not likely know the topic of exploratory talks and Greek-Turkish relations.
e. Lastly, the very fact that there’s a hidden agenda with concessions doesn’t imply that its bearer would not have clear political selections. Nor that as a way to perceive his objectives, it’s good to be personally knowledgeable by him.
Nikos Kotzias is the previous Minister of International Affairs.
