U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

Taken Questions of June 13, 1994

GREECE/TURKEY Q. What is the U.S. position on Turkish violations of Greek airspace?

A: CONTROL OF AIRSPACE IN THE AEGEAN IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE. IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES INVOLVING BOUNDARIES IN THE AEGEAN WHICH ARE AT THE HEART OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY.

GREECE CLAIMS A 10-MILE AIRSPACE AROUND ITS AEGEAN ISLANDS, MOST COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S., DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE 10- MILE AIRSPACE. THE GENERAL RULE, WHICH MOST COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S., RECOGNIZE, IS THAT AIRSPACE SHOULD BE EQUAL TO THE TERRITORIAL SEA. GREECE CLAIMS A SIX-MILE TERRITORIAL SEA AROUND ITS AEGEAN ISLANDS. (###)