Okinotori Atoll EEZ : China opposes Japan's illegal "island" claims

China on Friday said it does not recognize Japan's self-declared exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Okinotori Atoll.

Statements of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos and Environment, Energy & Climate Change Minister Maniatis. -Hellenic MoFA

MFA,Thursday, 30 January 2014

 

E. VENIZELOS: The exploration for the hydrocarbons that exist on the Greek continental shelf and the Greek exclusive economic zone are a firm and substantial priority for our government.

Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis and I, along with our associates, met so that we could all be equally up to date and have the same picture regarding the results of the very important seismic explorations carried out in previous months, regarding the analysis of the results of the seismic exploration, and, naturally, regarding the next steps that will lead to the selection of the concessionaires, precisely as has been done for other regions as well.

EEZ and TAP top agenda of talks between Foreign Ministers. On the EEZ issue, Mr. Venizelos stressed “all countries know the International Law of the Sea and protect their national sovereignty and sovereign rights".

Photo: balkaneu.com

By Manolis Kostidis
Greece’s and Turkey’s Foreign Ministers held a meeting in Ankara today in which they discussed the issues of the EEZ and cooperation to do with TAP, amongst others.

The meeting lasted about two hours and the ministers also discussed the Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish relations in the Aegean and the issues relating to the cooperation of the two countries on economic and energy issues such as the Trans-Adriatic pipeline.

Ahmet Davutoglu characterized the issue of Greece proclaiming an EEZ as a matter of dispute in the Aegean.