Question: In a recent press statement, the Greek President, Mr. Stephanopoulos has alleged that Turkey had abdicated its rights over all Aegean islands and that all of them other than the islands of Gökçeada (Tenedos) and Bozcaada (Imbros) are Greek. Can we take your opinion on this statement ?

Answer: If the said statement attributed to the Greek President reflected in the Greek press, is true then it displays an attitude designed to misguide public opinion contrary to the historical realities.

The matter of which islands and under what conditions were ceded to Greece was determined by a series of international treaties, particularly 1923 Laussane and 1947 Paris Peace Treaties. Some Eastern Aegean islands whose names are specified in these treaties were ceded to Greece on the explicit condition that they would be demilitarized and it was also envisaged that the "dependent-adjacent" islets to the Dodecanese Islands would also be given to Greece.

However, islets that might be considered within the terms "dependent-adjacent" referred to in these treaties were not identified. Since these terms have not been clarified so far, the maritime boundaries between the two countries in the Aegean could not be drawn. Although some studies had been initiated in 1950's with a view to drawing the maritime boundaries in the Aegean, unfortunately they were not concluded.

It is therefore totally in contradiction to historical and legal realities to assert that all the Aegean islands are Greek. This understanding of Greece actually constitutes the basic reason why so far problems in the Aegean have not been settled.

There are various islands, islets and rocks that were not ceded to Greece by international treaties. We have stated to world public opinion on various occasions that the Greek efforts to claim possession of these geographical formations by fait accomplis can not be accepted.

Turkey believes that the settlement of this issue through negotiations will facilitate the solution of other Aegean problems.