An indisputable right

Necdet Pamir, lecturer and Energy Specialist from Cyprus International University (CIU) stated that there has been an increasing dynamism and tension due to the hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean region and on the island of Cyprus in recent years.

It was reminded that Turkey like the other littoral states has the indisputable right of all wealth in the Eastern Mediterranean starting from Mediterranean coast towards the open sea for 200 nautical miles on the sea surface, in the water column and seabed within the framework of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

Also, Pamir used the expression that "also the longest coastal mainland strip with the open sea cannot be interrupted by any stretch of the Eastern Mediterranean Island".

Noting that in such cases, the aforementioned islands are granted either only territorial waters or very limited Exclusive Economic Zone rights, Pamir highlighted, “There are many international court decisions on this issue. Therefore, the illegal maximalist demands of Greece and Southern Cyprus have no validity”.

Also, Pamir stated that it would not be possible to search for hydrocarbons in "disputed waters" according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and reminded that Southern Cyprus carried out exploration and drilling activities together with foreign companies by holding 3 separate international tenders in 2007, 2013, and 2016.

Pamir expressed that recently between Libya and Turkey an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea was signed, and he noted that in this way the maximalist demands of Greece and Cyprus are prevented.

Pamir drew attention that Greece gave up from the thesis defended until today regarding the Egypt-Greece EEZ problem, which could not be resolved for years, and explained that "with this agreement, the unlawful demands on the island of Meis, located on the 2 km. coast, have become untenable.

Necdet Pamir saying that the most recent development during this process is that the Republic of Turkey declared on 18 March 2019 that Turkey's MTA-Oruç Reis search ship has been given the duty to search the continental shelf declared to the UN, also added: “Oruç Reis search ship continues its activities within the continental shelf declared to the UN by Turkey. In order not to allow any Greek provocation, the frigates of the Turkish Navy are operating under the announced NAVTEX”.

Pamir also noted that a significant hydrocarbon discovery which would be made as a result of the joint work of Turkey-TRNC, would end the energy dependency of the TRNC and Turkey if needed.