Expanding territorial waters is our right: Tsipras

ATHENS

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Nov. 8 that the extension of Greece’s territorial waters to 12 miles would not be done through presidential decrees but a vote in parliament.

He added that the tactic on this issue was changing but not the strategy.

“This is not a bilateral issue. Ankara would have to abide by international law,” Tsipras said in a televised interview with Alpha TV, Greek daily Ekathimerini reported.

“Greece is a threat to no one and it will not stand for threats from anyone. We must proceed with a substantial dialogue [with Turkey] without giving up any of our sovereign rights. We will not tolerate any threats with regard to the timing of the expansion of our territorial waters,” he added.

Ankara has repeatedly warned Athens that it would not tolerate a shift in the Greek maritime border.

Territorial waters are a sensitive issue between the two neighbors, who are separated by the Aegean Sea. Turkey and Greece have been at odds over their respective continental shelves for decades.

Turkey had previously warned it could not preclude military action to defend its interests.