Greece Pulls out of expansion of maritime border line

Safe diplomatic sources have suggested to the Top Channel Tuesday evening that Athens has changed its stance regarding the announcement of expansion of its coastline from 6 to 12 miles.

It has been a decision taken after a closed-door meeting that the country's foreign minister, while the country's prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, and the top political staff of the ministry, as well as senior diplomats in the neighbouring country.

The sources explained that this official Athens decision was made after, according to the prime minister, before asking the president to sign the decree on such a major issue as the expansion of sovereignty in Ion and Aegean, it must be previously to inform the leaders of parliamentary parties as well as to have consultations with the president.

Unofficially, it is said that this decision, sponsored by outgoing Minister Nikos Kotzias three days ago, during the ministerial portfolio delivery ceremony, to his successor, Alexis Tsipras, has disturbed the US, but Turkey as well.

It is learned that the American side has called for the annulment of this decision, while earlier Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Ceausoglu stated that any action by Athens to expand its coastline, in Jon or Aegean, would constitute, “Casis Belli” (cause for war).

On this issue, there has been no reaction from the Albanian side, which three days earlier had confirmed that expanding the coastline between Greece and Albania is the right of both countries, and that it could extend to areas where this would be possible.