The Aegean Dispute
The Aegean Dispute

Author(s): Alexis Heraclides
Subject(s): Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Aegean; Dispute; Greece; Turkey; design;
Summary/Abstract: The Aegean dispute between Greece and Turkey was set on course in late 1973 and early 1974 and has not been resolved after half a century. Attempts at a settlement have been made via dialogue and bilateral talks and in two historical moments the two sides had reached a mutual understanding of the concerns of the other side and the overall framework of a comprehensive settlement. The most promising talks which verged on actual negotiations were those of 1977-81, 2002-3 and for a fleeting moment also in 2010. From 2002 until 2016 there have been no less than 60 rounds of talks which were postponed sine die in mid-2016, following the abortive 15 July 1016 coup in Turkey. Thereafter each side blames the other side for the lack of progress of the talks although it is more than clear that both share responsibility (though not for the same reasons) for its non-settlement. In 2021, the talks restarted but were again postponed as relations plummeted to one of their worst levels since 1974, with even the worst case scenario, an armed clash a distinct possibility be it by accident (perhaps as a result of brinkmanship gone wrong) or even by design.

• Details
• Contents