Article 121(3) of the 1982 UNCLOS
Türkiye is a mainland state with a dominant uninterrupted coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean. In every important maritime decision, the mainland coast forms the primary reference line. This is not an opinion, but a consistent jurisprudence. In the North Sea Continental Shelf (ICJ 1969) case, the Court made clear that fairness, relevant circumstances and proportionality prevail over any mechanical equidistance. You cannot allow smaller elements to disrupt the natural projection of a mainland. People keep shouting "UNCLOS" without actually understanding what they're saying. Article 121 of UNCLOS recognizes that islands constitute an EEZ, but Article 121(3) limits rocks and small features that are uninhabitable. Even if islands apply, UNCLOS does not guarantee full effect in a delimitation dispute. Fairness still determines the outcome. Every important case proves this: Libya-Malta (1985) → minor elements reduced. Romania-Ukraine (2009) → Snake Island was given dispropo...
