The very important agreement between Greece and Egypt on the definition of the Search and Rescue areas, which are now identified with the Athens and Cairo FIRs, has been signed.
"The Agreement defines the limits of jurisdiction and areas of responsibility for Search and Rescue between Greece and Egypt, which are identified with the Athens and Cairo FIRs respectively, in full application and full respect of International Law. In contrast, the so-called Memoranda of Understanding between Turkey and the Government of Tripoli, constitute illegal, illegal, illegal, invalid and destabilising behaviour", stressed Nikos Panagiotopoulos immediately after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
"Greece and Egypt have a common vision for the creation of an environment that favours and supports the development and prosperity of their peoples, as well as security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean," the Defence Minister added, adding that Athens condemns any form of revisionism and unilateral actions that violate the sovereignty, sovereign rights and territorial integrity of Greece.
"Another step in the close cooperation between the two countries" said General Mohamed Zakri, Egyptian Defense Minister, noting that "Greece-Egypt relations should be an example for the relations of all countries as they are based on respect and principles of good neighborliness."
The Foreign Ministers of the two countries were also present at the ceremony, with Nikos Dendias stressing that the agreement gives a significant boost to the joint effort to further deepen bilateral relations and bilateral cooperation "based on the commitment to international law, including the Law of the Sea and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Based also on respect for international legitimacy and the promotion of peace and stability in the Mediterranean and beyond."
"An important step for the strengthening of relations and strategic cooperation between the two countries," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri described the agreement, stressing mutual respect for the values of each country.
Recognition of FIR and SAR boundaries
The most important chapter of the agreement is the recognition that the FIR boundaries of the two countries are identical to the area where Search and Rescue (SAR) is carried out. According to the 1979 Hamburg Convention, the areas of responsibility for Search and Rescue operations are determined by agreements between the coastal states concerned. In other words, as in the case of the delimitation of the EEZ between Greece and Egypt, the two countries recognise through a formal bilateral agreement that the area south of Crete and the Eastern Aegean up to the Egyptian coast is controlled exclusively by Athens and Cairo.
This development is significant because since 1988 Turkey has been claiming Search and Rescue within the Athens FIR, up to the 26th meridian, while in October 2020 it attempted again to unilaterally extend the limits to the Eastern Mediterranean, reaching 6 nautical miles from Crete and the East Aegean islands, on the grounds that it is "protecting" its research vessels.
Legitimacy step
Relevant diplomatic sources stress that while the FIR boundaries are set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Turkey, by unilaterally changing the Search and Rescue boundaries, is trying to extend its potential sovereignty to areas of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Greek-Egyptian Memorandum of Understanding, however, puts an end to the revisionist narrative of the "Blue Homeland"[/B] as it is another important step of legitimacy and implementation of international law, following the Greek-Egyptian agreement on the definition of the EEZ.
Greece has signed similar agreements with Italy in 2000, Malta in 2008 and Cyprus in 2014. With the addition of Egypt, Athens closes all but two open fronts, Libya with which it shares a very small area where its FIR meets the FIR of Tripoli and of course Turkey. In practice, however, it turns out that the only neighbour in the region that refuses to implement international treaties and embrace legitimacy is Ankara.
Re-approach
All along, the negotiations between Greece and Egypt have been conducted in complete secrecy and Athens has kept its cards close to its chest on this issue. The reason is Ankara's new attempt to reach out to Cairo and restore their bilateral relations. It is even considered certain that Turkey will try to sabotage any agreement between Cairo and Athens in order to keep its expansionist ambitions "alive".
The handshake between Sisi and Erdogan and the Turkish president's apparent 360 degree turn undoubtedly causes concern in Athens, which does not want to change the status of its bilateral relations with Egypt in the margins of the new agreement. It is clear, however, that Ankara's "charm offensive" will continue both in Egypt and Israel, in an attempt to weaken Greek alliances and for Turkey to claim a greater role in the energy puzzle of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Source: cnn.gr
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