Türkiye, Greece need to take steps for security in their region: Expert

By Gulsum Incekaya

ISTANBUL (AA) - Experts at the 15th Istanbul Security Conference on Monday agreed that solutions to the issue between Türkiye and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean should be reached by discussions in line with international law.

Topics discussed at the conference, given with the capital Ankara’s Baskent University, included the Russia-Ukraine war, opportunities and challenges in the Black Sea region, maritime border disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, refugee migration, and disasters.

Former US Ambassador to Türkiye James Jeffrey remarked that his country's assistance to Ukraine generated great concern in Washington, and that the US might learn from Türkiye's position.

Speaking at the panel, Jeffrey stated that it has become vital to protect Ukraine against Russia in accordance with UN and NATO norms.

Saying that they have achieved relative success against Russia so far, Jeffrey warned that if they cannot do more, they will fail and Ukraine may face a collapse.

Maria Gavouneli, an expert on international law at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, discussed maritime disputes and geopolitical competition in the Eastern Mediterranean.

She stressed that the Eastern Mediterranean is an important region and that Türkiye and Greece should take steps for security in the region.

She said that Türkiye and Greece should develop formulas that prioritize Eastern Mediterranean security, adding that she hopes that the two nations will meet to discuss other contentious matters, including maritime boundary disputes.

Alexander Proelss, head of the Institute for the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law at Hamburg University, said that it is imperative that the problems between the two countries be resolved through negotiations according to the principle of equity.

Saying that the tension between Türkiye and Greece has become more complex in the last 10 years, Proelss said that this tension has also triggered problems.

Proelss said there are certain rules and principles of international law, and that a formula to be found in line with these principles can solve problem between the two countries.