Turkish Objections to Exclusive Economic Zone Agreements Concluded by Cyprus

The discovery of substantial untapped reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean has spurred Cyprus to sign maritime delimitation agreements with its neighbours in an effort to create a secure legal environment for exploration and exploitation. Turkey, a fellow coastal state of the region with rights and interests of its own, has formulated a series of objections to these treaties. It is our aim to shed light on the Turkish position vis-à-vis said agreements. After providing a background to the Cyprus exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreements (of which the texts are reproduced in annexes to this chapter), we will consider the legal arguments put forward by Turkey to object to the three maritime delimitation agreements signed by Cyprus. Thereafter we will analyse these arguments, which are based on the following lines of reasoning: the ability to establish EEZs in the Mediterranean, concern for third party interests and the “question of Cyprus”. The conclusion briefly reflects on the merits of the Turkish assertions more broadly.

ISBN:978-1-84946-880-0

Jaar van publicatie:2016

Trefwoorden:International law of the sea; Maritime boundaries; Cyprus; Turkey