by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Greece has the right to extend its territorial waters under international law without negotiations with third parties, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexandros Gennimatas said on Tuesday, according to an e-mailed statement.
During a handover ceremony at the Greek Foreign Ministry on Oct. 20, former Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias, who resigned last week, said Greece was ready to extend its territorial waters from six miles to 12 miles in the Ionian Sea.
On Tuesday the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Greek ambassador Petros Mavroidis over territorial waters disputes, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
However, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a press release that "The extension of the coastal zone is a legal sovereign right of Greece, according to the international law, which can not be disputed."
Athens added in the press release that "interpretations of the international law and threats of violence by Turkey" do not contribute to good neighborly relations.
The two neighboring countries are at odds over sea borders for decades.
