Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
as geographically a special case; geologically, the
Aegean is regarded as the 'natural prolongation'
of Anatolia, and Turkey should therefore enjoy
continental shelf rights up to a median line
between the mainlands. Turkey would gladly allow
a six mile territorial sea for the Greek islands, but
it demands access to the seabed and its resources
between the islands to the median line. Turkey is
also determined to maintain freedom of
movement for ships and aircraft in the Aegean, and
would regard a Greek extension of territorial
waters to twelve miles as a
casus belt
. There have
been spasmodic talks about these fundamental
questions, but no progress has been made. In 1975,
Greece and Turkey agreed to place the matter
before the International Court of Justice—but
could not even agree on the terms of reference.
Cambodia-Thailand
The prospect of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of
Thailand (Figure 26.10) began a rush of maritime
boundary claims by the coastal states of Thailand,
Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam in the 1970s.
These claims were not always well considered and
were complicated by the shape of the gulf, coastal
lengths, and the size and location of islands. Today,
over 30 per cent of the Gulf of Thailand is subject
to overlapping claims. The Cambodia-Thailand
case illustrates the kind of problem. Cambodia's line
Figure 26.10
The
Cambodia-Thailand seabed
dispute in the Gulf of
Thailand.
Source:
Adapted from Prescott
1998 by permission of MIMA.
