Press Release Regarding the Allegations and News About Some Islands and/or Islets in the Aegean Sea

Republic Of Türkiye Ministry Of Foreign Affairs 01.10.2016

No: 242, 1 October 2016

The recent allegations and reports that Turkey has transferred the sovereignty of some islands and/or islets in the Aegean Sea since 2003 to another country are completely inaccurate.

On the other hand, it is a fact that there is a set of inter-related problems regarding the Aegean Sea between Turkey and our neighbor Greece. The legal status of certain geographical features in the Aegean and in this connection, lack of maritime boundaries between Turkey and Greece delimited by a valid international agreement are among these problems.

As is known, Aegean issues are dealt with through the existing dialogue channels between Turkey and Greece in all their aspects.

There has been no change in the legal status of the islands, islets and rocks in the Aegean in the last 13 years.

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