Airspace, FIR and command and control issues over Aegean Sea

Since 1974 the Aegean Sea has been a topic of much dispute for Greece andTurkey. Inspite of many attempts to resolve the problems, the dispute goes on to thisday. Over the years it has cost both countries some lives, cost Greece and Turkeypolitically and economically, and has been a detriment to NATO defense planningand operations and to some extend to that of Turkey?s struggle for European UnionMembership Process. Continued tensions therefore not only hold the potential fordisastrous war between two members of the same alliance but also hold thepotential to pull other countries into this conflict.Stability in the region and consequently, Europe is therefore at risk and must berestored through resolution of these disputes between Greece and Turkey.Resolution has not been attained though mainly because of each country?s intensenationalism and pervasive mistrust of the other country. This nationalism andmistrust of the other country must be overcome if a resolution is to be reached.Fortunately, the late goverments of both Greece and Turkey are much moremoderate and pro-resolution than their predecessors, and an ironic ameliration ofrelations thanks to devastating earthquakes in both Greece and Turkey in 1999indicate that the time is ripe for a push toward resolution.This thesis therefore examines the Aegean dispute (main problems overAegean Sea, claims over territorial waters, Greece attempts such as extendingterritorial waters to twelve miles decleration and consequently Turkish reaction tothis as a ?casus belli? situation; use of air-space and follow-on 6 to 10 milesconsiderations, differences over Flight Information Region (FIR) requirements;Command and Control discussions over the control of Sea and Air over AegeanSea) in detail, shows its impact on both countries, looks at the attempts at resolutionover the past thirty years, and discusses the current prospects for resolution.