The Aegean Maritime Disputes and International Law YÜCELACER BA, LIM, PhD. ASHGATE
Contents Preface Acknowledgements Table of Abbreviations ix x xi INTRODUCTION 1 PART I: THE AEGEAN SEA IN ITS CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT 3 A. Physical Characteristics of the Aegean Sea 3 1. Geographical Features of the Aegean Sea 3 2. Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Aegean Sea 7 3. Under-Water Structure of the Aegean Sea 11 B. Legal Characteristics of the Aegean Sea 17 1. Sovereignty over the Aegean Islands 17 2. Demilitarised Status of Some Aegean Islands 23 3. Maritime Rights in the Aegean Sea 24 4. Conclusions 43 PART II: PROSPECT FOR A JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE AEGEAN MARITIME DISPUTES 45 A. Considerations Related to the Settlement of the Aegean Disputes 45 1. Means and Bases of Settling the Aegean Maritime Disputes 45 2. Controversies Surrounding the Settlement of the Aegean Issues 47 B. Developments Concerning Judicial Settlements 53 1. Developments Between the T wo Peoples 54 2. Developments Between the Govemments 55 3. The Decision at the Helsinki Summit 58
C. Reflections For a Possibility of Judicial Settlements 60 1. Prospect for Negotiated Settlements by the Year 2004 60 2. Prospect for Judicial Settlements Through the ICJ 64 PART III: THE LAW ON THE MARITIME AREAS 69 A. The Territorial Sea 69 1. The Concept of the Territorial Sea and its Sea ward Extent 69 2. The Rules and Principles Regulating the Delimitation of the Territorial Sea 75 B. The Continental Shelf 77 1. The Juridical Concept of the Continental Shelf 77 2. The Outer Limit of the Continental Shelf 81 3. The Rules and Principles Governing the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf 83 C. The Exclusive Economic Zone 87 1. The Concept of the Exclusive Economic Zone and its Seaward Extent 87 2. The Criteria for the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone 92 D. Islands and Maritime Areas 94 1. The Territorial Waters of Islands 94 2. The Continental Shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Islands 96 PART IV: JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE AEGEAN TERRITORIAL SEA DISPUTE 99 A. Basic Considerations 99 1. Legal Arguments Raised by Greece 99 2. Legal Arguments Raised by Turkey 103 B. Basic Legal Considerations as to the Dispute 110 1. Law-Making in International Law and its Implications 111 2. The Principles of "Good Faith" and "Abuse of Rights" in International Law 119 3.ThePrincipleofEquity 124 C. The General Principles and the Breadth of the Territorial Sea 129 1. Legal Challenges to Declaring a Territorial Sea Limit 130 2. Considerations Relevant to the Determination of the Breadth of the Territorial Sea 133
D. The Applicable Principles and the Territorial Sea Limit in the Aegean Sea 136 1. The Navigational and Security Considerations in the Aegean Sea 137 2. Possible Extension of Greece's Territorial Sea and its Implications 138 3. Turkey's Position as Persistent Objector 145 PART V: THE PARTIES' ARGUMENTS AND THE RELEVANT DELIMITATION LAW 149 A. Legal Arguments over the Aegean Continental Shelf Delimitation 149 1. Arguments Raised by Greece 149 2. Arguments Raised by Turkey 152 3. Views Concerning the Area Relevant to the Delimitation 155 4. Legal Arguments over the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone 157 B. The Delimitation Law as Applied in Practice 157 1. Formulating the Equity in the Delimitation of Maritime Areas 158 2. Equitable Principles and their Application 162 3. "Relative Weight" to be Accorded to the Various Factors 173 4. CalculationofProportionality 178 5. Multi-Purpose Delimitation 185 6. The Role of Islands in a Delimitation Process 189 7. Sectoral Approach to the Maritime Delimitation 201 PART VI: MARITIME DELIMITATION IN THE AEGEAN SEA 205 A. Main Aspects of the Maritime Delimitation in the Aegean Sea 205 1. The Framework of a Single Delimitation Line 205 2. The Relevant Area and Coastlines 207 3. A Sectoral Approach to the Aegean Maritime Delimitation 210 B. Equitable Delimitation in the Aegean Sea 211 1. Delimitation Based on the Aegean Coastal Geography 212 2. The Effect of the Aegean Islands 217 C. Other Relevant Considerations 230 1. The Effect of Sea-Bed Features in the Aegean Sea 230 2. The Effect of Resource-Related Factors in the Aegean Sea 232 3. The Role of Security Considerations in the Aegean Sea 235 4. Proportionality in the Aegean Sea 236 vu
CONCLUSION 241 Appendices 245 Appendix I Maps 247 Appendix II Tables 253 Bibliography 263 Index 285 Every effort has been made to trace all the Copyright holders for the maps, but if any have been inadvertantly overlooked the publishers will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity.