The Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, which, in the midst of “calm” in Greek-Turkish relations, published a provocative piece claiming Greece had suspended the armament of the Aegean islands, whose status it describes as “unclear”.

The newspaper, which is considered a mouthpiece of the Erdogan government, outlined a “process of normalisation of relations between Greece and Turkey” stressing that it was a new positive development on the issue of the Aegean islands ahead of the December summit in Thessaloniki between Greek and Turkish diplomats.

“The normalisation process between Turkey and Greece is progressing positively. The government of Athens has stopped arming the islands, islets, and rocks, whose sovereignty was not transferred by treaties (EGEAYDAAK) and is one of the problematic areas. The steps towards normalisation between the two countries, which began after the February disasters, were further strengthened by a meeting between President Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in September at the UN. Positive developments are expected on the islands issue, which is one of the most serious problems between the two countries, by the time the leaders’ summit resumes in December,” Yeni Safak wrote.

The Turkish newspaper goes on to talk about the “unclear legal status” of 152 islands, islets, and rocks, which was not defined in the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris Treaties. “The treaty problem, which is one of the most serious and complex issues on the agenda of the two countries, directly affects the territorial waters, Exclusive Economic Zone, and continental shelf of some 152 islands, islets, and rocks. The names and status of the islands and islets with unclear legal status in the Aegean were not defined in the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris Treaties. The island problem between the two countries stems from Greece’s desire to own all islands, islets, and rocks outside three nautical miles from the Anatolian coast, in violation of the rules of international law. Because of the EGEAYDAAK dispute, no solution has been reached on issues such as the division of maritime and air jurisdiction areas in the Aegean, the continental shelf, and airspace issues.”

“Greece decided in recent months to strengthen its air force against Turkey, ordering Rafale aircraft from France and deploying them on Limeni Island, a few hours away from Turkey. Similarly, on the island of Samos, the closest island to Turkey, hundreds of Greek soldiers are stationed at four bases. There are also systems belonging to the Greek military forces on Megisti, Chios, Patmos, Psara, Arki, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi, Kalolimnos, Pserimos, Symi, Strongyli Megisti and Roe, which are also very close to Turkey,” the newspaper claims, adding, however, that “according to sources, in the new period of relations between the two countries, the placement of munitions on the islands, which were armed in the past, has stopped.”