In a joint press conference held in Cairo on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Greece, Sameh Shoukry and Nikos Dendias, announced that the two countries signed an agreement on setting up an exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Greek-Egyptian agreement comes in a period of increased tension between the governments of Turkey and Greece over gas fields in Eastern Mediterranean. The situation has been particularly tense after Turkey issued an illegal NAVTEX on July 21st, blocking an extended area south east of the Greek island of Kastelorizo in order to carry out seismic surveys. You can read here a joint declaration of the Communist Parties of Greece and Turkey (KKE and TKP) on the latest dangerous developments.
Yesterday, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expressed its concern over the recent maritime demarcation agreement between Egypt and Greece, pointing out that the deal is part of the broader aspirations of the USA-NATO-EU in the region and paves the way for the joint exploitation of the Aegean and East Mediterranean.
In a statement published in 902 portal, the KKE points out:
“The government is engaging in fanfare for the Greece-Egypt agreement, for the demarcation of the Exclusive Economic Zone, without having informed the people about the content of the agreement. Behind the big words about the “historic agreement” lies the danger of a painful compromise at the expense of the country’s sovereign rights.
The claim that the agreement with Egypt cancels the unacceptable Turkish-Libyan memorandum seeks to simplify a very complex situation, characterized by intersecting competitions which spark Turkish aggression and tensions in the region”.
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The KKE calls the Greek government to provide answers:
“Has it signed any partial demarcation agreement of the EEZ with Egypt that expels Kastelorizo, which (as an island) has rights in the maritime zones like the mainland?
Does the Agreement include Rhodes and the other islands of the Dodecanese complex and under what influence?
What influence has been agreed for Crete?”
The KKE “expresses its deep concern that the Greece-Egypt agreement is part of the broader aspirations of the USA-NATO-EU and paves the way for the joint exploitation of the Aegean and the maritime zones east of the 28th Meridian, with or without the Hague Tribunal”.