ABSTRACT
This chapter explores these characteristics in order to establish the bases for considering the settlement of Aegean maritime disputes on the basis of international law. It reviews the historical basis of the Aegean disputes and clarified the sources and characteristics of the disagreements. The chapter demonstrates that some disputes are related to the interpretation or application of certain international agreements. The review on the socio-economic characteristics of the Aegean Sea therefore suggests that it is a significant sea area for at least two main reasons. First of all, it is associated with a considerable Greek and Turkish population. Secondly, it is situated at the centre of many significant navigational roads for both Greece and Turkey on the one hand, and other countries especially those around the Black Sea on the other. The concepts of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the continental sheif are integrated in the contemporary international law in terms of both conception and seaward extent.
