Aegean impasse-Turkish PM rebuffs reports of a breakthrough in talks

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday denied reports that progress has been made between Greek and Turkish diplomats on the thorny issue of the delineation of the continental shelf. “There has been no agreement on the issue of the 12 miles,” Erdogan said, referring to Ankara’s longstanding objections to Greece extending its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles. “The talks are continuing,” Erdogan said. “When an agreement is reached, both sides will make a joint statement, but there is nothing yet,” the Turkish PM added. Meanwhile Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that “notable progress” had been made in exploratory talks between Greek and Turkish officials.