LEGAL AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE AEGEAN DISPUTE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH GREECE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Bu makalenin amacı Ege Sorununun hukukî ve siyasî yanlarını Türkiyenin Yunanistan ve Avrupa Birliği ile ilişkilerine etkileri üzerinden değerlendirmektir. Makalenin temel argümanı Türkiye ve Yunanistan arasındaki hemen hemen bütün uzlaşma girişimlerinin Egeye ilişkin farklılıklarından kaynaklandığı şeklindedir. Diğer bir argüman ise Yunanistanın ulusal çıkarlarını gerçekleştirmek için Avrupa Birliği karar alma mekanizmasını Türkiyeye karşı bir kaldıraç olarak kullandığı şeklindedir. Bu argümanlar doğrultusunda, birinci olarak, Ege Sorununun Türkiyenin Avrupa Birliği ile ilişkilerini önemli ölçüde etkilediği, ikinci olarak da Türkiye ve Yunanistanın Egeye ilişkin yaşadıkları çatışmaların devam etmekte olan uzlaşma sürecinin başlamasını kolaylaştırdığı sonucuna varılmaktadır.

EGE SORUNU NUN HUKUKÎ VE SİYASÎ BOYUTLARI VE TÜRKİYE NİN YUNANİSTAN VE AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ İLE İLİŞKİLERİNE ETKİLERİ

The aim of this article is to evaluate the legal and political aspects of the Aegean dispute with special reference to its implications for Turkey s relations with Greece and the European Union. The main argument of the article is that virtually all major attempts at rapprochement between Turkey and Greece have been sparked by crises stemming from their bilateral differences over the Aegean. Another argument of the article is that Greece has used the European Union s decision making mechanism as leverage against Turkey to achieve its national interests. It is concluded in line with these arguments firstly that the Aegean dispute has influenced substantially Turkey s relations with the European Union and secondly that certain conflicts that Turkey and Greece have experienced in their relations over the Aegean have been the stimulus behind the current rapprochement.

___

  • Adam, H. (2000) “Military Status of the Aegean Islands” in Bayram Öztürk (ed) The Aegean Sea 2000: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 205-213
  • Aksu, F. (2004) “Ege ve Kıbrıs Sorunlarının Çözümünde Avrupa Birliği’nin Tutumu”, Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2(3), 103-132
  • Athanasopulos, H. (2001) Greece, Turkey and the Aegean Sea: A Case Study in International Law, North Carolina: Mcfarland & Company Inc. Publishers
  • Athanassopoulou, E. (1997) “Blessing in Disguise? The Imia Crisis and Turkish-Greek Relations”, Mediterranean Politics, 2(3), 76-101
  • Aybet, G. (2009) “Fault Lines or Integration: The EU Impact on Greek-Turkish Relations”, in Othon Anastasakis, Kalypso Nicolaidis and Kerem Öktem (eds) In the Long Shadow of Europe: Greeks and Turks in the Era of Postnationalism, Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 145-166
  • Aydın, M. (1999) “Determinants of Turkish Foreign Policy: Historical Framework and Traditional Inputs”, Middle Eastern Studies, 35(4), 152-186
  • Bargiacchi, P. (2000) “Freedom of Overflight in the High Seas” in Bayram Öztürk (ed) The Aegean Sea 2000: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 214-220
  • Bern Agreement (1976) [Online] Available at: http://www.turkishgreek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=a rticle&id=70:bern-agreement-between-turkey-and-greece-11- november-1976&catid=58:belgeler&Itemid=68 [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Bertrand, G. (2003) “Greek-Turkish Relations: from Cold War to Rapprochement”, Observatory of European Foreign Policy, EUTR 5/2003, 1-3, [Online] Available at: http://www.iuee.eu/pdfdossier/12/iPFzMjayLiR2fMmgJ0QG.PDF [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Bilge, S. (1989) “Situation in the Aegean”, in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 67-80
  • Charter of the United Nations (1945) [Online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/data/Kutuphane/MultilateralConventions/Chart eroftheUnitedNations.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944) Doc 7300/9 [Online] Available at: http://www.icao.int/publications/Documents/7300_cons.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Convention on the Continental Shelf (1958) [Online] Available at: http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/8_1_1 958_continental_shelf.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Denk, E. (1999) “Disputed Islets and Rocks in the Aegean Sea”, The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations, 29, 131-155
  • Diez, T. (2002) “Last Exit to Paradise? The European Union, the Cyprus Conflict and the Problematic Catalytic Effect”, in Thomas Diez (ed) The European Union and the Cyprus Conflict: Modern Conflict, Postmodern Union, Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 139-162
  • European Council (1999) Presidency Conclusions, 10-11 December [Online] Available at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/e c/ACFA4C.htm [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • European Council (2004) Presidency Conclusions, 16-17 December [Online] Available at:http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/ en/ec/83201.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Fırat, M. (2002) “1960-1980 Yunanistan’la İlişkiler” in Baskın Oran (ed) Türk Dış Politikası: Kurtuluş Savaşından Bugüne Olgular, Belgeler, Yorumlar, Vol: I, 6th Edition, İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları, 716-768
  • Fırat, M. (2002a) “1980-1990 Yunanistan’la İlişkiler” in Baskın Oran (ed) Türk Dış Politikası: Kurtuluş Savaşından Bugüne Olgular, Belgeler, Yorumlar, Vol: II, 6th Edition, İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları, 102-123
  • George, B. and M. Stenhouse (1989) “Political and Security Issues in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean” in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 81-112
  • Gündüz, A. (1990) The Concept of the Continental Shelf in Its Historical Evolution, İstanbul: Marmara University Press
  • Gündüz, A. (2001) “Greek-Turkish Disputes: How to Resolve Them?”, in Dimitris Keridis and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (eds) Greek-Turkish Relations in the Era of Globalization, Dulles: Brassey’s, Inc., 81- 101
  • Gürkan, İ. (1989) “Certain Defense Issues in the Aegean Sea Basin: A Turkish View” in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 113-131
  • Hale, W. (2000) Turkish Foreign Policy 1774-2000, London: Frank Cass Heraclides, A. (2002) “Greek-Turkish Relations from Discord to Détente: a Preliminary Evaluation”, The Review of International Affairs, 1(3), 17-32
  • Heraclides, A. (2010) The Greek-Turkish Conflict in the Aegean: Imagined Enemies, Hampshire and New York: Palgrave Macmillan İnan Y. and Y. Acer (2004) “The Aegean Disputes” in Ali L. Karaosmanoğlu and Seyfi Taşhan (eds) The Europeanization of Turkey’s Security Policy: Prospects and Pitfalls, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 125- 157
  • İnan, Y. and M. P. Gözen (2009) “Turkey’s Maritime Boundary Relations” in Mustafa Kibaroğlu (ed) Eastern Mediterranean: Countries and Issues, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 153-211
  • International Court of Justice (1976) Aegean Sea Continental Shelf Case on Interim Protection (Greece v. Turkey), 11 September 1976 [Online] Available at: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/62/6221.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • International Court of Justice (1978) Aegean Sea Continental Shelf Case on Jurisdiction of the Court (Greece v. Turkey), 19 December 1978 [Online] Available at: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/62/6247.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Jenkins, G. (2001) “Turkey’s Changing Domestic Politics” in Dimitris Keridis and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (eds) Greek-Turkish Relations in the Era of Globalization, Dulles: Brassey’s, Inc., 19-40
  • Karl, E. D. (1989) “The Delimitation of the Aegean Continental Shelf: Equitable Principles and the Problem of Islands” in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 155-179
  • Ker-Lindsay, J. (2007) Crisis and Conciliation: a Year of Rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, London: I.B.Taurus Kirişçi, K. (2006) Turkey’s Foreign Policy in Turbulent Times, Paris: European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
  • Kozyris, P. J. (2001) “The Legal Dimension of the Current Greek-Turkish Conflict: A Greek Viewpoint” in Dimitris Keridis and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (eds) Greek-Turkish Relations in the Era of Globalization, Dulles: Brassey’s, Inc., 102-114
  • Kurumahmut, A. (2000) “A New Greek-Turkish Dispute: Who Owns the Rocks?”, in Bayram Öztürk (ed) The Aegean Sea 2000: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 109-116
  • Kut, Ş. (2001) “Türk Dış Politikasında Ege Sorunu” in Faruk Sönmezoğlu (ed) Türk Dış Politikasının Analizi, İstanbul: Der Yayınları, 253-270
  • Lagoni, R. (1989) “Overlapping Claims to Continental Shelf Areas”, in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 147-154
  • Larrabee, S. F. (2001) “Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: Transatlantic Challenges and Perspectives”, in Dimitris Keridis and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (eds) Greek-Turkish Relations in the Era of Globalization, Dulles: Brassey’s, Inc., 224-238
  • Larrabee, S. F. and I. O. Lesser (2003) Turkish Foreign Policy in an Age of Uncertainty, Pittsburgh: RAND Corporation Lausanne Peace Treaty (1923) [Online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gr/images/docs/diethneis_symvaseis/1923_lausanne_t reaty.doc [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Lausanne Straits Convention (1923) [Online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/ii_-convention-relating-to-the-regime-of-thestraits.en.mfa [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Marsh, J. E. (1989) “Turkey and UNCLOS III; Reflection on the Aegean”, in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 221-241
  • Milliyet (1993) Yunanistan Güneyimizde, 18 November
  • Milliyet (1995) Kıbrıs’ı Satmadık, 30 December
  • Milliyet (1996) Ege’de Sıcak Saatler, 31 January
  • Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits (1936) [Online] Available at: http://sam.baskent.edu.tr/belge/Montreux_ENG.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Nachmani, A. (2002) “What Says the Neighbor to the West? On Turkish-Greek Relations” in Barry Rubin and Kemal Kirişçi (eds) Turkey in World Politics: An Emerging Multiregional Power, İstanbul: Boğaziçi University Press, 93-121
  • Öniş Z. and Ş. Yılmaz (2008) “Greek-Turkish Rapprochement: Rhetoric or Reality?”, Political Science Quarterly, 123(1), 123-149
  • Özer, Y. (2010) “Kıbrıs Meselesinin Türkiye-Avrupa Birliği İlişkilerindeki Rolü” in Cüneyt Yenigün and Eftan Efegil (eds) Türkiye’nin Değişen Dış Politikası, Ankara: Nobel Yayın, 557-576
  • Paris Peace Treaty (1947) [Online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gr/images/docs/diethneis_symvaseis/1947_italy_treat y.doc [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Raftopoulos, E. (1997) “The Crisis over the Imia Rocks and the Aegean Sea Regime: International Law as a Language of Common Interest”, The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, 12(4), 427-446
  • Resmi Gazete (1973) Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığına Verilen Petrol Arama Ruhsatnamelerini Gösteren Harita [Online, 01 November] Available at: http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/main.aspx?home=http://www.resmigaz ete.gov.tr/arsiv/14699.pdf&main=http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/arsiv /14699.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Ronzitti, N. (1989) “The Aegean Demilitarization, Greek-Turkish Relations and Mediterranean Security” in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 295-308
  • Schmitt, M. N. (1996) “Aegean Angst – The Greek-Turkish Dispute”, Naval War College, 49(3), 15-56
  • Stivachtis, Y. A. (1999) “The Demilitarization of the Greek Eastern Aegean Islands: The Case of the Central Aegean and Dodecanese Islands”, The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations, 29(1), 99-130
  • Syrigos, M. A. (2001) “Greek-Turkish Disputes, Recourse to the International Court of Justice and Stability in the Aegean”, in Christodoulos K. Yiallourides and Panayotis J. Tsakonas (eds) Greece and Turkey After the End of the Cold War, New York and Athens: Aristide D. Caratzas, 271-294
  • Terzi, Ö. (2005) “Europeanization of Foreign Policy and Candidate Countries: A Comparative Study of Greek and Turkish Cases”, Politique européenne, 17(3), 113-136
  • Toluner, S. (2000) “Some Reflections on the Interrelation of the Aegean Sea Disputes” in Bayram Öztürk (ed) The Aegean Sea 2000: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 121-138
  • Treaty of London (1913) [Online] Available at: http://www.mfa.gr/images/docs/diethneis_symvaseis/1913_london_tre aty.doc [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Tsakonas, P. J. (2001) “Post-Cold War Security Dilemmas: Greece in Search of the Right Balancing Recipe”, in Christodoulos K. Yiallourides and Panayotis J. Tsakonas (eds) Greece and Turkey After the End of the Cold War, New York and Athens: Aristide D. Caratzas, 145-166
  • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) [Online] Available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/uncl os_e.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]
  • Valvo, A. L. (2000) “The Aegean Sea Between Greece and Turkey: The Kardak Rocks and the Other Islands Never Given” in Bayram Öztürk (ed) The Aegean Sea 2000: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 117- 120
  • Van Dyke, M. J. (1989) “The Role of the Islands in Delimiting Maritime Zones: The Boundary between Turkey and Greece”, in The Aegean Issues: Problems and Prospects, Ankara: Foreign Policy Institute, 263-294
  • Van Dyke, M. J. (2005) “An Analysis of the Aegean Disputes under International Law”, Ocean Development and International Law, 36(1), 63-117
  • Veremis, P. (2001) “The Protracted Crisis”, in Dimitris Keridis and Dimitrios Triantaphyllou (eds) Greek-Turkish Relations in the Era of Globalization, Dulles: Brassey’s, Inc., 42-55
  • Versan, R. (2001) “Some Reflections Upon Maritime Boundary Delimitation in the Aegean Sea” in Bayram Öztürk and Nesrin Algan (eds) Problems of the Regional Seas: 2001: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Problems of Regional Seas, İstanbul: Turkish Marine Research Foundation, 245-248
  • Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) [Online] Available at: http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/1_1_1 969.pdf [accessed: 2 May 2015]